Disturbed Duck Issues

[racheleva]

We inherited 3 chickens and a Peking duck from our neighbors who moved; they are all about 1-1.5 years old and laying.

The duck is very nervous around people and quacks a LOT whenever you get near her (the chickens are oblivious - not overly friendly but love you when you have treats). Her previous owner chased her around a lot and I think had a love/hate relationship with her. Whatever he did to terrorize her, she does NOT like me getting close to her.

We are trying to make her more comfortable around us by not terrorizing her, giving her space, demonstrating we are nice new people who will give her fresh treats and keep her water fresh and she can be a happy duck with us and not so paranoid and NOISY all the time.

Except that I think she's going broody (I think that's what it is - being a first time bird owner). The last two days she just wants to sit in the nest box on top of her egg (and the chicken eggs). I want to collect the eggs, but don't want to terrorize her and ruin some of the work we've done to make her more calm and comfortable. She quacks at me aggressively from the nest box when I get close and will NOT move, not even when I put treats out to try to lure her out.

Is this what's happening? Is she going broody? Any advice on how to keep her from being broody?

Also, any advice on how to manage hostile ducks so that they become more calm? She quacks a LOT and LOUD when she feels we are threatening her space - so If we can get her to feel like we are not threatening her space, I feel like she won't quack as much. Of course if she's broody, she's even more protective of her space (and MY eggs!).

 

[cosbackyard]

I doubt the previous owner terrorized her. Welcome to ducks, they run away from you when you get too close. And the girls quack. Alot. Mine like me enough to follow me around, but if anything they quack even louder now than when they were afraid of me.

It does sounds like she's gone broody, though. If you thought she wasn't sociable before just wait till she hisses at you. There are threads on here about breaking broodiness, can't comment since I never have.

As for getting ducks to like you - it's all about treats. Try peas. Just keep your expectations low. Most ducks will never be "jump up in your lap" kind of pets.

 

[desertdarlene]

If she's broody, she'll act annoyed at you and quack loudly when she's displeased. She may also call for a mate. I would just go about your daily routine as usual and see if she comes around.

 

[racheleva]

Hi all,

Thanks for your help earlier! She did end up going broody - even when there were no eggs. She would sit on the ping pong balls (also inherited from the neighbor). When I removed those, she stopped being so protective of the nest box. She started laying again after about two weeks.

Now she's stopped again because she is molting.

She's become more comfortable around me, but still doesn't like getting close. Her favorite treats are tomatoes! My issue with her now is how mean and aggressive she is to the two 3-month old hens I'm trying to introduce to the flock. She'll grab them by the wing and neck and hold them down while the other chickens peck at them! I haven't fully introduced them after that fiasco 4 weeks ago. They are bigger now, and becoming more confident and aggressive, so I am going to try again and hopefully they will fight back.