California - Northern

[zooweemama]

Everyone hatching chicks and ducklings... so exciting! I hope we get there someday. We picked up two ducklings at Tractor Supply today. Not sure what they are.







I posted on the duck forum. I figure they're probably Pekin or Buffs (I don't really know much about ducks, so sorry if those are silly guesses) but the way they stand up so much had me thinking (wishing!) runners. We'll see I guess! I have them in with the chicks for now, but I'm sure we'll move them on their own soon. I think they're four days old. They're pretty (VERY) nervous around us, I hope they warm up to us.

The girls (Week old EEs) had their first trip outside today! It was so cute. Now they're cuddling with the new duckling friends.

Look like production Runners to me so far. Runners tend to be nervous anyway. Ducks are not chickens. They will act terrified of you - indefinitely. Once they are a couple weeks old and you can get them outside a bit- you can help them be less terrified by offering them peas. They love peas. Feeding them out of hand helps. But it takes weeks and weeks. And weeks. They are nothing like brooding chicks at all. Seriously. You will be 3 weeks into and they knock over their water and food trying to get away from you because you might murder them (I swear that is what they think in their head)...and you will think...gosh I feed them, handle them, water them, clean them, bathe them and I never kill them and yet they are still terrified. Just know that is that becomes your experience- you didn't do anything wrong. That is how they are. Handle them a lot. Bring them treats after a couple weeks. Move around them slowly (at all ages and stages). Squat down to their level and be small with them. It really helps. I love zee duckies! These guys are adorable!

 

[zooweemama]

Everyone hatching chicks and ducklings... so exciting! I hope we get there someday. We picked up two ducklings at Tractor Supply today. Not sure what they are.







I posted on the duck forum. I figure they're probably Pekin or Buffs (I don't really know much about ducks, so sorry if those are silly guesses) but the way they stand up so much had me thinking (wishing!) runners. We'll see I guess! I have them in with the chicks for now, but I'm sure we'll move them on their own soon. I think they're four days old. They're pretty (VERY) nervous around us, I hope they warm up to us.

The girls (Week old EEs) had their first trip outside today! It was so cute. Now they're cuddling with the new duckling friends.

Could even be Pekins...as they get older watch for eye color, feather color and bill shape. Runners don't have a forehead dip..
This is a production quality Runner- note the slope of the bill and face.



Production quality Pekin

 

[tls_ranch]

Quote: When I was a little kid my dad got me a couple of ducklings and they actually bonded to me. They followed me in a line ( like I was their momma)...sat in my lap etc. I caught live minnows in the pond for them and put them in the bathroom sink. They would go crazy diving in the sink after those minnows until they were too stuffed to eat any more. I would then blow dry them with my mom's hairdryer on the bathroom counter and help them groom themselves...My mom hated it LOL. Once they got bigger my parents decided they should live in the pond...they didn't make a single night

But I guess I got them very young and had all the time in the world to bond with them during summer vacation. I later tried goslings with the same result (they thought I was their momma), but a fox got them after they got too big and had to live in the barn. Dad tried to get me another gosling and it was too old to bond to humans. He turned out to be a horrible pet and attacked everything that moved, but fell obscenely in love with a pickup truck

Trisha

Trisha

 

[ronott1]

Quote: When I was a little kid my dad got me a couple of ducklings and they actually bonded to me. They followed me in a line ( like I was their momma)...sat in my lap etc. I caught live minnows in the pond for them and put them in the bathroom sink. They would go crazy diving in the sink after those minnows until they were too stuffed to eat any more. I would then blow dry them with my mom's hairdryer on the bathroom counter and help them groom themselves...My mom hated it LOL. Once they got bigger my parents decided they should live in the pond...they didn't make a single night

But I guess I got them very young and had all the time in the world to bond with them during summer vacation. I later tried goslings with the same result (they thought I was their momma), but a fox got them after they got too big and had to live in the barn. Dad tried to get me another gosling and it was too old to bond to humans. He turned out to be a horrible pet and attacked everything that moved, but fell obscenely in love with a pickup truck

Trisha

Trisha

 

[zooweemama]

When I was a little kid my dad got me a couple of ducklings and they actually bonded to me. They followed me in a line ( like I was their momma)...sat in my lap etc. I caught live minnows in the pond for them and put them in the bathroom sink. They would go crazy diving in the sink after those minnows until they were too stuffed to eat any more. I would then blow dry them with my mom's hairdryer on the bathroom counter and help them groom themselves...My mom hated it LOL. Once they got bigger my parents decided they should live in the pond...they didn't make a single night

But I guess I got them very young and had all the time in the world to bond with them during summer vacation. I later tried goslings with the same result (they thought I was their momma), but a fox got them after they got too big and had to live in the barn. Dad tried to get me another gosling and it was too old to bond to humans. He turned out to be a horrible pet and attacked everything that moved, but fell obscenely in love with a pickup truck

Trisha

Trisha

The fewer you get, the more time you spend with them and the less time they have contact with other ducks or animals they can get really tight with their people. On the duck thread this is the most common complaint. My ducks are scared and they won't snuggle with me. What is wrong with my ducks. Actually that is more normal than the other experiences of ducky love. If these ducks are raised by people, spend lots of time with them, not outside much, kept close to the house and not have to live with a lot of other birds- there is a good chance you will have some imprinting going on. Experiences differ widely with ducks. We spent a lot of time with our ducks. They were inside with us IN the house for 3 weeks. My kids handled them all the time. So did we. Treats, snuggles... they will now walk under our feet if we are carrying the feed bucket. Some will let you scoop them up, most will make you work for it. I am glad you had a wonderful experience like that. I hope she does too.

 

[zooweemama]

Is this breeding season? (dumb question i know) My ducks are mating in overdrive...do the chickens do that too? When does it start to mellow out?

 

[tls_ranch]

Yep, when you are a little kid and have plenty of time...even wild critters turn tame. I also raised blue jay chicks too. One blue jay (or scrub jay) I raised was TOO smart. Once he was fully grown and back in the "wild", He taught all the other jays how to eat the dog's food. My mom had a fit once she realized why we were going through twice the dog food we should have been.

I have another part of my waterfowl raising adventure as a kid. One of my first goslings survived the initial fox attack. She became even more bonded to me. She used to ride the horse with me, on my bike in a crate on the back rack and on the four wheeler. The neighbors dog got her...that's why my dad tried to get another gosling for me. But that one was the one who fell in love with the truck...wouldn't let anyone near the truck either.

Great memories...despite the sad parts.


Trisha

 

[zooweemama]

The fewer you get, the more time you spend with them and the less time they have contact with other ducks or animals they can get really tight with their people. On the duck thread this is the most common complaint. My ducks are scared and they won't snuggle with me. What is wrong with my ducks. Actually that is more normal than the other experiences of ducky love. If these ducks are raised by people, spend lots of time with them, not outside much, kept close to the house and not have to live with a lot of other birds- there is a good chance you will have some imprinting going on. Experiences differ widely with ducks. We spent a lot of time with our ducks. They were inside with us IN the house for 3 weeks. My kids handled them all the time. So did we. Treats, snuggles... they will now walk under our feet if we are carrying the feed bucket. Some will let you scoop them up, most will make you work for it. I am glad you had a wonderful experience like that. I hope she does too.

I hope I didn't sound sassy. I don't mean to be. I do a lot of reading on boards, posts and draw from personal experience too. So many people feel bad because their ducks don't turn into lap dogs and I am always trying to help them feel better when I tell them that is exception (lap dog ducks) and not the rule. It's been a long day of Spring cleaning over here! It's been very - cleansing.

 

[tls_ranch]

Nope not sassy at all.

The cute little ducks just reminded me of my childhood. I didn't post to argue about duckling bonding. I agree it depends on the breed, age, how many you have and especially how much time you spend with them.

Trisha

 

[zooweemama]

Yep, when you are a little kid and have plenty of time...even wild critters turn tame. I also raised blue jay chicks too. One blue jay (or scrub jay) I raised was TOO smart. Once he was fully grown and back in the "wild", He taught all the other jays how to eat the dog's food. My mom had a fit once she realized why we were going through twice the dog food we should have been.

I have another part of my waterfowl raising adventure as a kid. One of my first goslings survived the initial fox attack. She became even more bonded to me. She used to ride the horse with me, on my bike in a crate on the back rack and on the four wheeler. The neighbors dog got her...that's why my dad tried to get another gosling for me. But that one was the one who fell in love with the truck...wouldn't let anyone near the truck either.

Great memories...despite the sad parts.


Trisha

Geese are so precious. They def get a bad rap. Ours for some reason get along well with our ducks. Our gander looks after them all. He actually herds them to the pond in the morning, and at night he herds them to the shore to forage - then herds them to coop for supper. Then herds them to bed! haha It's very funny. Last night our Appleyards booked for the pond at dark. Chuck had enough of that nonsense and marched down to the pond and honked for them to get out of the water. They did and followed him back up to the coop and went to bed. He, I have learned, is the exception and not the rule. So I enjoy his unique skills! LOL otherwise we are forced to toss rocks into the pond to try to shoo the skittish Appleyards back out. So grateful for our bossy gander.