Duck Behavior Changes

[Shoch]

I have had a small flock of Khaki Campbell ducks for about 6 months now. There are two males and two females. I got them at around 6 weeks old. While they have always been skittish when faced with sudden movements they were generally friendly and we had a great relationship. They began mating about a month ago. Since then they have become increasingly agitated by my company. Over the last ten days they have become seemingly scared of me. They no longer follow me around and it is a struggle to get them into their 'house' each night. They used to walk right in excited for their dinner, and now I have to catch them and put them in for the night. Which only seems to traumatize them no matter how gentle I am (there are foxes in the area, they can't stay out for their safety). The ducks used to eat out of my hand and were 100% food motivated. If they ever strayed to far I could guarantee their return simply by shaking the feed bag. It is as though they loved me one day and were terrified of me the next. I keep trying to 'earn' their trust back, but nothing seems to work. Is this to do with mating, or reaching maturity? What can I do?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Both actually, you haven't changed they have and they have become independent of you. Herding is a good way to get them to go in of an evening, walk slowly behind them and either use long poles or your arms open guide them where you want them to go they learn quick, Your right in wanting them locked up at night too may hungry preds just waiting for duck dinner. Even though my ducks still eat out of my hand they do not want me to touch them. If we're going to have a relationship with our birds it has to be on their terms. Keep working on the eating out of your hand, I sit out in the evenings and do this right before time to go inside.

 

[chickens really]

Miss Lydia is totally right....Your Ducklings are independent now and think of you differently...Big Birds now...They can be bossy and lazy....

 

[Bridger Davis]

My sugguestions are mealworms for luring into the coop at night, getting them to like you, and also getting them to eat out of your hand again. Also, I hear that using a flashlight to guide them by light into the coop is also effective. Hope this helps!!

 

[Bridger Davis]

Welcome to BYC by the way!

 

[meleia]

Im having the same problem, Fred (a Mallard) was sitting alone with damaged eggs in a nest at my job site in the air on a pallet, he was only a day or two old, he is now 6 months old. He used to follow me everywhere, at dusk I would tell him its time for bed and he would go into his coop. Over the last few weeks he has been getting his fancy coloring and his behavior has changed. He is let out in the morning and flys to the pond and stays there all day, he completely ignores me at dusk and refuses to go to his coop, after an hour or so of coaxing him to get close to it, he acts like he is afraid to go in. Im terrified that he will be killed if I cant get him to go in one evening, I have seen racoon tracks around the pond. He does not like to be picked up and will run or fly if we try. Is this normal behavior for ducks when they start getting their colorful feathers?

 

[chickens really]

All young animals grow up and no longer need parents...Just maturing and becoming independent ...