Duck behavior questions

[WickedChicksNH]

Hi all
I have 4 ducks,
Zeke my black runner almost 2 months
Gabby my Rouen almost 2 months

Pippa my Cauga about a month
Louie my Rouen about a month

So they have got to know each other lately.

I helped one of the little ones out of the water the other day, (mind you at this point they were not in the same pen, but their pens are up against each other) So I picked him up of course she is still skiddish so she started quacking.. So Zeke my black runner in the other pen just let out a big ole quack, hes done that before just one ole big quack. could it be because he was worried about the little duck?

My big ducks are getting used to they little ones, they are not being aggressive with them but I noticed they will wrap their neck gently around the little ones's body to move them. Gabby my older rouen when she would see the ducklings she would just start shaking like an excited dog. Is that normal of a duck? They all get along great now, today was their first day in the same pen together.
I actually sat in the pen with them on and off most of the day in beach chair to make sure things went smoothly

last question for now
My ducks are still kind of young, they still are a little nervous, they have got to the point where they don't have a mini heartattack when I walk to them, they still don't prefer it though,

I am weird and I will spend my free time sitting at the coops with them all, (I have ducks and chickens I am trying to introduce to each other) so I will be sitting at my chair, my ducks (all of them) will lay or stay right by me on the other side of the fence. I am like do you love me or not LOL.
when I go out in the morning to let them out they start quacking away takes them a few seconds before they get brave and will walk by me to go out of the coop when I open up the door.

Will they ever no be so scared? I spend a lot of time with them.. like A LOT, like I said I sit with them, visit them several times a day, they were brought up in my office with me while I worked the first month of their life (I work from home) I talk to them all the time

Thank you

 

[mustangrooster]

Sounds like Zeke was just concerned, my ducks will do that too if they hear another duck is in distress.


As for getting them to be less scared of you, yes, they will eventually calm down. They are young and skittish, but you are doing a great job at socialising with them, once they graduate from being a 'teenager' they will calm down. My ducks used to be so skittish when they were teenagers, but I also made sure to never chase them, and I would spend a lot of time with them. Now they will eat out of my hand, follow me just about everywhere, and don’t flinch when I walk past them. Just take time to build trust with them, which it sounds like you are doing well.

 

[chickens really]

Humanizing them doesn't work...They are all pretty young so time will tell,once you can sex them all properly..

 

[WickedChicksNH]

Thank you so much for your replies. I didn't have this many questions when i was raising my 5 kids lol

 

[chickens really]

Thank you so much for your replies. I didn't have this many questions when i was raising my 5 kids lol

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[mustangrooster]

Thank you so much for your replies. I didn't have this many questions when i was raising my 5 kids lol

You're welcome!

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