Duckling help (Urgent!)

[CayugaJana]

They look so cute huddled up. I’m so glad he’s pulled through!!

 

[Liasse]

Excuse me, but I am confused again (happens a lot). There is a lot of talk about handling the young ducks--one person even said that they HAD to hold them....this is what confuses me. Of course I know that ducklings are the cutest creatures in God's creation. But where does it say that we humans are supposed to handle them? I suppose some hatchlings might imprint fully on a person and let the person pick them up without too much hassle. But every duck I have ever raised (I am up to about 30 or so now) has a huge fear of me getting too close to them. Of course sometimes I need to pick them up (to put them somewhere), but believe me, they hate it.
These are not dogs. So why then, is there this intense need to hold them? Can't they just be left alone--to be happy?

I myself don't handle my ducklings for "fun" I handle them so that when they are older they will not be skittish, or agressive when I need to move them. The only one I properly handled for comfort purposes was my sickly one, which I don't worry about anymore bc he's mostly better, handling for me is picking them up, letting them sit in my hand so they get use to it. But not constantly or babying them. Just so they get used to the feel.

 

[Liasse]

They look so cute huddled up. I’m so glad he’s pulled through!!

Yep! Unfortunately we had to switch him out to another one because once we left the two that were left alone one of them were showing strong amounts of agressive behavior. I know that they peck n all. But they could barely get to the food without being chased away, (it was the black one that was being bullied by another duckling we had) the new switch is doing a lot better and the pairs seem to be doing better and nobody is getting bullied

Here's the new pair, either way he still looks happy to have the company, thanks so much for helping me

 

[Lazy Farmer]

If you have a way to separate the chickens from ducks,