Biting Duckling. Suggestions on how to stop?

[swalter]

I have a 3 week old Pekin duckling, Spazzy, and it just started biting everytime I take it out of the brooder. I hold Spazzy everyday and even take him/her for walks. Now Spazzy bites my fingers, toes, pants, shirt, hair, and anything else it can get a hold of. It doesn't hurt yet but I don't want it to continue to a point when it will hurt. This is my first duck so I am just learning. I know they are social animals and spend time with Spazzy everyday. What am I doing wrong? How can I correct this?

 

[Mum]

Welcome to the forums, swalter

Its a phase. Nipping at things is how they learn (like toddlers putting everything in their mouths). It certainly isn't anything you have done "wrong". Spazzy will get over it when s/he is foraging all day long

 

[swalter]

Thank you so much. I am still learning and have learned a lot from everyone on BYC. Thank you again.

 

[Kevin565]

Swalter. I defiantly agree with mum. The phase will pass eventually.

 

[jdywntr]

I am wondering if Spazzy is biting or nibbling. Nibbling is more like just putting their bill on you but not grasping just more like mouthing (if that makes any sense). I agree that ducklings explore with their mouths but if he is actually biting I would be concerned. Ducks are very social creatures. Many baby animals learn from their litter/hatch mates and mother about appropriate behavior. If a nip or bite is too hard then they are reprimanded and they learn what isn't appropriate.
How much time are you able to spend with Spazzy? I'm wondering if he may be reacting this way because he is alone.

 

[DuckLady]

He is kissing you. Ducks don't have lips to pucker up with.

 

[swalter]

S/he grabs my fingers and will sometimes shake his head. It doesn't hurt but again s/he is only 3 weeks old. S/he does nibble in my toes when running loose in the house but doesn't grab and shake the head like with my fingers. I work eight hours a day so s/he is in the brooded all day and when I get home I normally take him outside for a walk. I then let him loose in the house and hold him later in the evening. I spend approx two hours an evening with him.

 

[swalter]

I hope s/he is just kissing me

 

[Echo5]

Hey! I have four pekin ducks, they all bit/nibbled my fingers hairnpants etc when they were yound they even did it to each other.. I think it's a sign of affection and exploring... When thy got bigger they still kept doing it and I'd tap their bills to try and stop them because I thought it would hurt even more when they where full grown. It would kind of work haha bu they still did I anyway. I do think it's just a fase because thy are fully grown now and I can hold them and everything and they don't bit... There is the odd bit/nibble from them but it doesn't hurt, just a little pinch lol but it's rare they bit. I wouldn't worry much about it

 

[Mini Moe]

Wow...this was one of my questions as well and its been answered. My babies are about 1.5 wks.