Documenting Day-to-Day Duckie Development

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I searched, but I didn't find any peer-reviewed study. Anecdotes are useful, but I was hoping for scientific research.

Are we not all scientists?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Have they already started to develop their individual personalities?

 

[WhoDatChick]

I had to convince the last ones to go into the new big tub full of water, but once the first is in… 25 days old, during the "axe-murderer" stage:

I love it when they dart under the water!

 

[ChickensForEggs2500]

Sweet Clementine
She is my favorite! Look at those two coloured webs!

I Agreeeeee!!

 

[KaleIAm]

Nope! - You will turn into an evil axe murderer! - From the point of view of your duckies. They will suddenly be afraid of you for no obvious reason. Don't be disappointed! It will disappear and they will like you again.

I feel like my ducklings mostly skipped the axe murderer stage. They did seem more aware of loud noises and other "dangers" during the period, but had decided I was safe. I assumed that was because I spent a lot of time with them, and often even slept with them.

Do you know how humans go through a period where they have stranger anxiety at about 10 months of age? I believe it is the same thing. I'll refrain from calling it The Axe Murderer Phase to the little humans' parents.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

My fall ducklings were definitely going through the axe-murderer stage!
But the weird - and sweet - thing was that when something more dangerous looking appeared, like a huge plane from the National Guard flying over, they all ran peeping towards me huddling as close as possible.
Then i was the axe murderer again…

 

[KaleIAm]

My fall ducklings were definitely going through the axe-murderer stage!
But the weird - and sweet - thing was that when something more dangerous looking appeared, like a huge plane from the National Guard flying over, they all ran peeping towards me huddling as close as possible.
Then i was the axe murderer again…

Oh my that's precious!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Have they already started to develop their individual personalities?

My, yes! Clementine is sassy and mischievous. Figgy is curious and a little anxious. Those two are stand outs right now. Marmalade seems to be the friendliest. She isn't really scared of the Giant Hand that reaches in every now and again. Peanut is just chill. She just follows what the others do, and she sleeps a lot.

 

[CHlCKEN]

57 days before i raise ducklings again! Previously i’ve kept two pekins, one welsh harlequin, and one silver apple yard, but i lost them all a while back. i’m starting fresh very soon! i can’t wait to start my own thread like this.

Mango and Quinn

• CHlCKEN
• Feb 9, 2021
• 1

Mango and Quinn my Silver Appleyard and Welsh Harlequin

 

[Aunt Angus]

I feel like my ducklings mostly skipped the axe murderer stage. They did seem more aware of loud noises and other "dangers" during the period, but had decided I was safe. I assumed that was because I spent a lot of time with them, and often even slept with them.

Do you know how humans go through a period where they have stranger anxiety at about 10 months of age? I believe it is the same thing. I'll refrain from calling it The Axe Murderer Phase to the little humans' parents.

They are pretty much constantly with me, but it's been difficult handling them because they don't sit still, and my dog is often near.

My dog is having a very hard time fighting that prey drive. The cats don't really care, but my Hattie dog just goes bo kers. She sits next to their enclosure and whines. If the duckies get excited and make a lot of noise, she starts running around the enclosure. I'm 1000% sure she'd gobble them up if she ever got the chance.

She's all of 12 lbs and about 12 in tall. Once the duckies get past the "peep peep" phase, she'll be in her axe murderer phase...