Anyone need help taming their ducks? Its a thing!

[SolarDuck]

Awww! She's so cute!!! Do you attach a leash to them? Do they have any harnesses without diapers? Do you know? My ducks are pretty big...they are Pekins. What type of ducks do you have?

I just have Muscovy, I have a harness without a diaper that I got off amazon, but it was not nearly as intuitive as this one it was basically a small dog harness slightly altered. Pigeon was pretty okay with wearing it.. until I attached a leash. Being leashed to something is not something they are used to so it kind of freaks them out, and they try to run away from the leash that they think is chasing them.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Just give them time, they will lighten up! Spend lots of time out there with them! You don't have to get near them, just be where they can see you. Sit down and just talk soft to them! When feeding them, feed about 2 feet away from you, just stand there and don't try to touch them or even bend down. Its different when you're just in the yard as they are not forced to come to you as for feeding, your pretty much saying "eat by me or don't eat at all". Obviously, that's not what you're trying to do but you have to remember...they are prey animals, its natural for them to be scared in the presence of you. God put that fear in them to keep them safe! Just keep that in mind. Also, make up a call in a certain tone and call them every day the same way before feeding them! They will catch on! (This call will need to be for feeding time only) here's a tip, treat them with something special besides duck food every once and a while! You would hate having to eat the same thing every day! They get tired of it too and i promise you, it won't hurt them! My duck favorite is spaghetti! Once they are comfortable doing this, (not going to give a certain amount of days because every duck is different) begin to feed them closer to you. (Maybe a foot or so) again, wait for them to become comfortable with this. Keep feeding them closer and closer to you and eventually you will be able to feed them at your feet! At this stage, you can try and bend down but don't talk or attempt to pet them, you are still building trust. When your ducks are responding to your duck call, feasting happily at your feet, following you around the yard and even quacking for you in the mornings, you can try reaching out and lightly touching them on the back. See their reaction! If hes ok with it, he will act like he didn't even feel it! If this is the case, stroke him once or twice on the back. Still good? Congratulations!!! Your duck is tame! If not, don't fret, you did nothing wrong. Try another duck and give him more time! He'll come around! Every duck is different! Remember, if one duck does it, the rest will most likely follow his example! Lmk if this helped! I hope your ducks do well and the method works!

Thank you! Very helpful

 

[SolarDuck]

Anybody ever try spending a lot of time with a broody to tame a duck? Karen here doesn't generally like being pet but she is a very dedicated broody, so she will tolerate it while laying on her nest.

I'm very curious if spending a lot of time in here with her would help her warm up to me more, or if it would just make her hate me more. I'm pretty good at petting ducks and giving little massages that my other ducks absolutely love, so I'm curious if a broody hen can be tamed by this. I'm gonna try and just spend like 30 mins per day in the coop with the broody Karen and see how it goes.

 

[KaleIAm]

Anybody ever try spending a lot of time with a broody to tame a duck? Karen here doesn't generally like being pet but she is a very dedicated broody, so she will tolerate it while laying on her nest.

I'm very curious if spending a lot of time in here with her would help her warm up to me more, or if it would just make her hate me more. I'm pretty good at petting ducks and giving little massages that my other ducks absolutely love, so I'm curious if a broody hen can be tamed by this. I'm gonna try and just spend like 30 mins per day in the coop with the broody Karen and see how it goes.

I'm so curious what will happen.

My ducks have gotten really mad at me when I invaded their space when they have been broody. Even the ones who normally are walking all over me.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Mine only like to bite my feet lmAo, its not aggressive they just kind of play with my feet until they bleed... wearing shoes or socks is the only way I can go out lol whenever they see the toes they attack

Not sure whether to laugh or feel bad.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Not sure whether to laugh or feel bad.

Why is everyone laughing???

 

[DucksAreBest]

Why is everyone laughing???

It's funny.

 

[SolarDuck]

So I've just been stopping by Karen and giving her a few pets and a few mealworms every time I go outside, it is very hard to tell what a broody duck is feeling, but she doesn't seem to completely hate it.

She started nibbling my fingers when I did it today which I think is a good thing, but I'm not sure. I think maybe finger nibbling means she is a tad less scared of me.

 

[DucksAreBest]

Today, I got my first darkling beetle!

 

[SolarDuck]

https://youtube.com/shorts/BC__VkgQ2jI
Y'all think this is about average for a broody duck? I don't have much to compare to because my only other duck who's gone broody so far is penguin and she turns into a little attacking demon when she is broody. I've been stopping by Karen's coop a few times a day bringing pets and mealworms, but yesterday I found her nest was infested with ants eating the mealworms so I changed out her straw and stopped doing mealworms. Her behavior seems about the same today as it was the first time I did this. She doesn't seem to completely hate it, at least not enough to get up and get off her nest, but she doesn't seem to particularly like it either. No clue if any of this will help in the process of taming her but I guess only time will tell.