I have 3 mallards that I have hand raised and they are my only birds. I can cuddle with them, especially my runt who I had to help out the the shell and give special attention to. When I touch them, they don't move towards my finger like a cat does. I say that when a cat does that, it is more to rub his/her marking pheromones on you moreso than a sign of enjoyment, but I like to imagine it more or less an indication of it. They don't like to be touched when swimming or when I am standing up and I bend down to do it, but when I am sitting down, they will sit and let me pet them. They have fallen asleep with my rubbing the back of their heads, petting their back feathers, and playing with the poofyness of their butt fuzz where the feathers have not really covered yet. Rubbing the back of the head of one of them seems to even put him to sleep. Many times they will just plump into my lap and just hang there while I pet them Dr. Evil/Evil Bond Character style. Do you think they actually enjoy being petted and cuddled with?
I think they do. If not then they enjoy hanging around and try to please you. Either way it is wonderful to have them around. My husband was a little standoffish when I've got eggs and an incubator. It was Katharina's ducks back then. Now he sits outside talking to them.
ducks dont like things bigger than them, thats why when you are walking towards them they get scared, but when you are sitting their level, they love you. my ducks dont seem to like me either way, unless i have peas!
