Duck/Owner Behavior Advice

[Andrea PNW]

Hi duck family - I've got a question for y'all: I've read that there is a bit of a 'teenage phase' that ducklings go thru when they start getting more independent and a bit more ornery. I'm concerned about whether I'm doing the right thing by handling them the way I always have or if I should back off a little. I don't want to break trust.

So for more context/specifics on behavior..

My three Welshies are about 10wks and while I handle them all several times a day --- every day (with treats and bill rubs and head scratches etc)

1. I've noticed when I initially pick them up lately it takes longer to get them comfortable and settled in for our nightly half hour cuddle (each). They each protest for a few seconds while I hold them firmly and I adjust us both to what seems to be the most comfortable position. Once they are settled they sorta melt and really really want face and bill rubs.

2. But that being said, today Beverly (adorbs sweetness in the attached pic) was looking half asleep getting her bill rubbed and suddenly she turned her head and started nipping at my face pretty aggressively. I moved my face away but she kept at it enough that I stopped her by holding her bill firmly away from my face and said "no". After about 10secs I let go, cooed at her and she did it again. So I repeated my "no" and held her bill away from my face for another 10sec. After the third time she finally stopped nipping at my face but I definitely felt like a mom disciplining a child for bad behavior.

But ducks aren't humans and I'm afraid this may have been the wrong approach. Despite her being all gooey in my arms - she suddenly turned into Chuckie. Should I have just put her down when she started doing this cuz maybe she really didn't want to be held and by holding her despite this I was damaging trust? Was I wrong to try and assert myself as her duck mom and stop that behavior? Or is it even more important now at this age to keep up the consistent handling and assert myself as her duck mom when she exhibits bad behavior.

I know I'm over thinking it but I've got to deal with my double drake situation in a couple of months and want to make sure I'm doing right by my sweet Peaches, Bev and Winnie. Even when they are kinda being dicks right now.

 

[Mylied]

I wouldn't force cuddles on them. Ducks don't like being picked up. Just sit on the floor with them and treats and let them come to you. She may have been trying to groom you. Ducks love to groom. Maybe redirect it to a fluffy blanket or something.

 

[Mylied]

They are beautiful!

 

[Andrea PNW]

I wouldn't force cuddles on them. Ducks don't like being picked up. Just sit on the floor with them and treats and let them come to you. She may have been trying to groom you. Ducks love to groom. Maybe redirect it to a fluffy blanket or something.

Noted! I'll do that!

 

[DukesDucks]

I agree with Mylied that ducks, at least mine, don't like to be picked up. But some physical contact is still a good idea for those times when you have to catch them. When I first got my ducks, I was encouraging them to eat treats from my hand. Problems happened when they hit the 'teen' stage and they began demanding treats, pecking at me insistently. Now I spend time with them in their run, but treats are delivered on the ground.

 

[KaleIAm]

I also don't force snuggles. I noticed that as my ducks grew up they even touched each other less and less, so I think it is natural for them to be touched by us less as well. My ducks do touch me, one hops into my lap at times, another is always pressing her chest and neck into me, and they all eat from my hands. But they don't like it if I pick them up. Our relationship is the closest when I do the most of what they like. If I sit down and let them come to me I end up getting a lot more of what I want than if I try to force their affection.

 

[SolarDuck]

I think it varies duck to duck, 2 of mine absolutely love being picked up and snuggled. The ones that liked it though never really went through a period of not liking it, they just liked it more and more as they got older.

 

[Andrea PNW]

Y'all are the best - really. There is no official online "duck cuddles behavior" handbook so seriously this forum is such a lifeline. I hear all of you and I'll heed all advice. I got them as day-olds and their brooder was in the house right next to the couch up until 10 days ago - so I've been committed to the bonding and I think I'm just as attached to them as they are to me. Both my front and backyards are completely fenced so right now the big kids (Barbe, Ed and Ruthie) are free ranging in the backyard and my young ladies are having their first full day of free ranging in the front yard. They are so happy to be out and about and not penned up!

 

[LT71689]

When I had my two Pekins, they hated the act of being picked up, reached for, touched, but they always wanted to be *near* me. Very friendly, just on their own terms. I tried nudging them into my lap a few times and they'd only tolerate it for a moment (usually distracted by chewing on my sweatshirt strings or shoelaces but that only lasted so long), but when I got a cover for my couch and started bringing them into the living room with me in the evenings they absolutely wanted to be on the couch with my husband and I, they were not happy staying on the floor and would hop up between us and nap for a couple hours. One of them was more cuddly than the other, she'd snuggle up to my side and let me pet her (she didn't want to be touched any other time than when she was snuggled on the couch) the other just wanted to sit between us on the sofa and sleep.

They might be going through their teenager phase or it mightve been a one-off kinda night. Were you wearing anything different than usual? jewelry, makeup, etc? Both of mine would go after my earrings and nose ring, my eye brows (which got a little dangerous, coulda lost an eye), would eat my hair.

I cant tell you whether you should quit snuggling or not. I think if it were me and they really seemed perfectly fine with it up until now, maybe I'd try but just let them go the first time they object? They're prey animals at heart and probably don't feel super comfy being held in one spot when they're trying to get away - i cant say whether they'd ever eventually learn from it that you're not going to eat them and settle down or if its just too strong an instinct to train out.

 

[SolarDuck]

I cant say whether they'd ever eventually learn from it that you're not going to eat them and settle down or if its just too strong an instinct to train out.

This is actually something I am VERY curious of. Whether its possible to actually train them out of that behavior. I feel like it has to be possible with enough time and dedication, considering they are domestic animals, but honestly I have no clue. It would be an interesting experiment. I'm currently caring for an injured muscovy hen that was feral in my area and she wants NOTHING to do with me, but she is getting more comfortable with me as time goes. Treating her injury is going to require a lot of touching and holding her so I guess I will see if she ever gets any less scared of me.