Ducklings eating boogers

[ChellyAnn]

I have a summer cold and the first thing my ducklings do when I hold them is stick their bills in my nose. Can they get sick too and how do I stop them from doing this? I don't know why they started this but it is gross. I want to be able to snuggle them without having to worry.

 

[RedBreasted]

Birds don't get the same cold strains from humans. But I don't think is good health for them or you since you CAN get salmonella from the birds but the boogers won't kill them, just... very disgusting. Anyways, to solve this, cover your nose? Sorry if my answer is sort of generic.

 

[ChellyAnn]

That's fine. That's the only thing I could think of too. I never even thought about salmonella. As a kid I always used to kiss my chickens. I would carry them around pretending they were my babies. They were much better than dolls. I was a weird kid.

 

[ChellyAnn]

I tried pushing them away when they get close to my face but then they bite me. Not noodling but biting, it kinda hurts. So now I have a whole other issue.

 

[ChellyAnn]

I read on another thread about giving them time outs in their brooder when they bite. About how long until that works? They are biting the cat now too. They are bossy little babies.

 

[chickens really]

Human emotions do not work with Birds....They think of you and the cat bellow them in the pecking order...
Do not pick them up anymore and if they try to bite your Cat?..Clap your hands loud and chase they away a couple of feet....Try that...

 

[BantyChooks]

I read on another thread about giving them time outs in their brooder when they bite. About how long until that works? They are biting the cat now too. They are bossy little babies.

My youngest ducklings bite, it takes a while to train them out of that...

My ducklings aren't completely tamed to me, so when they do that I change body posture to aggressive and push them off my lap if necessary. They'll scoot back a few feet and then they'll come try again. If they're nice, they get to stay.

 

[BantyChooks]

Human emotions do not work with Birds....They think of you and the cat bellow them in the pecking order...
Do not pick them up anymore and if they try to bite your Cat?..Clap your hands loud and chase they away a couple of feet....Try that...

Don't pick them up? Any idea how hard that is?

 

[chickens really]

I never cuddle my Ducklings...So no, it's not hard for me...I pick them up to move them if needed?....

 

[ChellyAnn]

They have stopped biting me. I pushed them off my lap when they were getting mean. The cat is another story. The clapping didn't work so now the poor guy just runs away whenever he hears them coming.