bonding with waterfowl

[Laura78]

When I feed my ducks and geese I always put a little food in my hand and let them eat it. At first I would feed them most of the food from my hand. Bewarned, it tickles alot!

 

[kees]

Quote:
I bought that book and reread many parts of it. Yesterday I ordered some diapers and harnesses and covers. I can't wait until the new baby arrives!

Suzy

 

[nettie]

a baby waterfowl, such as a duck imprints on a species. They bond to an individual.

As long as a duckling sees a human first, you won't have an imprinting problem. It doesn't matter which human.

We got our baby ducks day old after their cross country travels form Cali to Alabama. My fiance and I each took one baby and spent time with it. I lheld mine all the time. You can also try approching your babies with your hand in a particular postion. With your fingers together, put your thumb to them, almost making the shape of a duck head. I find the babies aren't as scared of your approaching hand if you do this. I have baby diaper harnesses for them which keeps them from pooping on everything while holding them. I'd Diaper vinny and let him run around my bed or couch withme. He usually would run up my torso and climb on my shoulder, hop on my head and hide in my hair. He really liked being by my face too.

Asa funny side story, my duck Victor came from Metzer farms, in California... which is close to mexico. They probably employ hispanic people at their hatchery. Why do i think this? Well i think they played spanish music in the hatchery because everytime a spanish song comes on, he perks up and gets excited.

 

[FarmGirl21]

I got 9 Muscovy's last year that were all about 4 months old (fully feathered)when i bought them. I left them in a pen for about a week and visited them multiple times every day and hand fed them. They all warmed up very quickly and, not long after, came running every time they saw me or i called them...i also use "duckduckduck" to call them...or make cooing noises like they do.....although the sound of dog food rattling in a plastic container works pretty well too

.

the two girls i have left out of the 9 i got are comfortable enough to try and walk right past you to get in the house to the dog dish...after a couple time of being caught they try to be sneaky about it though...they're rotten but i love them.

 

[Wifezilla]

i think they played spanish music in the hatchery because everytime a spanish song comes on, he perks up and gets excited

You have to find a salsa channel on the radio for your little seniorita

he two girls i have left out of the 9 i got are comfortable enough to try and walk right past you to get in the house to the dog dish...after a couple time of being caught they try to be sneaky about it though...they're rotten but i love them

My husband has busted our runner sneaking in the patio door and going for the cat food a couple of times..LOL

She is the shyest of our ducks, but we got her as a one year old. She wont eat from my hand yest, but she stopped running away in terror after 4 months

 

[kees]

Did you find that your birds bonded more with each other than you?

Suzy

 

[Wifezilla]

JJ is bonded with me, but Bungie is bonded with JJ.