Can unhandled ducks be 'tamed'?

[sboultinghouse]

Sorry, this is not really a 'reply' but an amen to what you said about the ducks spazzing out. We got 4 week old pekins and they are so afraid of me. I have raised many breeds of ducks and none are really friendly that I have been able to handle without them going nuts. There are 6 ducks, they all run over each other to get out of the vicinity of me. I have tame rabbits, sheep, dogs, even my homing pigeons are reasonably tame. You think if I make one sit in my arms a while, it will quit the crazy behavior?
the duck witch

 

[Amiga]

I have two or three runners who are very sweet and friendly - they let me pet them and hug them as long as I don't pick them up they stay very calm. And they tolerate being picked up.

The rest of my runners are sweet and friendly and will gather close around me as long as I don't try to touch them. They make an exception if I have peas.

At about three weeks, my ducklings went from very friendly, crawl all over me, to terrified of me as if I were an axe murderer.

I got wise counsel from BYC members including Duckyfromoz.

This is normal development for many ducklings - a natural instinct. They fear being cornered, they fear things that are taller than they are, they fear things that sneak up on them and try to grab them.

So instead of cleaning out the brooder with them in there, I let them out into the hallway (on old sheets) while I cleaned. They did not have to feel cornered. I came into the brooder room down low, sweetly singing or talking before I came into sight.

I refrained from reaching for them unless I had to.

I offered treats from a little distance, and sat near them as much as possible.

 

[khawdashhtchngs]

I say any ducks can be tamed. It just takes patience and carefullness. They tend to chill out at certian ages as well and its easier to work with them, if you have a bigger area to be with them in it helps because then its their choice to come closer to you. Start a little bit at a time and it will get better and better and better.. ohh and, mealworms!!