Duck not fond of bath time

[GeneviaJ]

So, my 2 Khaki Campbell's, Waggles & Taggles had their 2nd bath time tonight. Waggles LOVES the water....always going under it, and playing around. Taggles on the other hand will paddle her little feet, but won't do much else. Aren't ducks supposed to LOVE water?

Also, I've had them since Wed, they were 1 day old when I got them. They're still scared of me. I thought that they were supposed to imprint, or do they only imprint on the 1st person they see after hatched?

 

[nivtup]

Khaki Campbell's are not the most friendly ducks. If you spend a lot of time with them they will tolerate you.

Sounds like you are having fun, keep it up.

 

[aussieheelr]

Sorry can't help much about the imprinting thing, but I'll tell you we have 4 runner ducks and 1 cayuga. The runners remind me of leghons and are just skiddish about most everything. They cayuga is just, kind a there. She doesn't care about you being around one way or the other just goes about her business. I'm sure someone will chime in though.

 

[Baralak]

We had one Khaki Campbell.. It was our most friendliest duck. Infact she would take naps with my 17 year old son.. it was tooo funny. She passed thanks to a cat.

 

[BrattishTaz]

I know nothing about ducks.

I did see a post that said something about putting peas in the water. I guess ducks love peas and will dive to get them.

 

[nettie]

ducks imprint on a SPECIES they first see (usually the first living or moving thing they see when they hatch that is bigger than them)

but the BOND to an individual. This means lots and lots and lots of handling, snuggling, holding, nuzzling, etc. Especially if you do it one at a time, and have someone else in your family hold the other.

 

[Amiga]

How deep is the water and how warm? When mine were that young, they just had water (about 90F) up to their bellies only. That way they could stand or splash but still feel secure, and not risk exhaustion from constant paddling.

A few treats (they need some chick grit first) can help them become attached to you. Be aware that at least in my case, my runners went through a few weeks of being afraid of me. We worked it out, and now some of them will let me hug them, all of them let me close enough to pick them up and all but one will eat out of my hand (she lets me pet her and pick her up, though. Funny one, that Elfie.)

Even now, Sieben and Funf don't like the cold as much as everyone else does - maybe the water is too cold for the duckling's taste.