Duck trust???

[Ducks-love-me]

As you probably know my ducks were abandoned and they are scared around humans because their last owner treated them wrong. how do I ear their trust back to humans. one of them came right up to me and was all very nice and is now scared of me again. what do I do to let them know I am nice?
they keep getting terrified.

 

[Amiga]

At a certain age, ducklings can become extremely frightened of people, no matter what. This happened with my runners. What I did, with the help of BYC members, was:

keep low when approaching them. Tall things are scary.
Make pleasant noises, also - predators don't make sounds and sneak up.
Bring treats - doesn't have to be much - a bowl of lettuce, a few thawed frozen peas, and put them between you and the ducklings. Sit still, wait, maybe sing softly.
Patience, patience, patience

After a bit most ducks will come around and be friendly if not cuddly.

 

[Ducks-love-me]

Aww okay I will try that. When I was bringing food one flew at me were they trying to scare me or where they being nice?

 

[Amiga]

Or were they hungry, or maybe wanted to go outside the pen and explore?

 

[Ducks-love-me]

They might have been hungry bc whenever they see the food can they get excited! And we once left the gate open so they could explore and they all stayed on the pen :/ hmm

 

[Amiga]

Probably glad to see you bringing the food!

 

[Ducks-love-me]

Yeah that's what I figured since I feed them twice a day! Haha not much but we bring over the lettuce with it. Also is bread bad for them. Can I feed a little but to them?

 

[Amiga]

I would avoid the bread, but some do feed a little from time to time. Miss Lydia has used it to get her ducks to take pills. Are they getting enough to eat? I am a worrywart, I kept food in front of my ducklings all the time. I keep forgetting how old yours are. Once they are maybe 7 weeks old more or less, they can go without food for 8 hours or so.

 

[Ducks-love-me]

They are old enough now. we can't tell exactly bc we rescued them but they have all their feathers in now.

 

[Ducks-love-me]

Okay bread is only 19 cents for live stock feed over here. so I will feed them maybe 1 piece between the 6 of them a week? Is that okay?