Ducklings go crazy when I pick them up

[duckman4450]

My mallard ducklings are almost 10 days old and still when ever i pick them up they go crazy. I've tried not putting my hand around them, just letting them lay or stand in my hand and they try to run off my arm and jump off. Why don't they understand that I won't hurt them. Every time I leave the room they peep extremely loud and forever until I come back. They also know my voice compared to everyone elses, because when I come in the room and say "Hi girls!" they run around and try to jump out and go crazy until I acknowledge them, yet when I pick them up they squirm and peep in a way that sounds like they're getting eaten.

 

[billw]

Sounds perfectly normal. Cover them with your hands and they will settle down. They want their feet supported and their heads covered.

In nature, nothing picks up ducklings but predators.

 

[keyt1969]

Yup like what billw said, that's totally normal. As they get older they will get used to you. Also when you pick one up, the rest will go crazy because they want to know where that one went!

 

[duckman4450]

Thanks for the reply! I do make a base with my hands and they seem to enjoy that, but they're getting too big to hold both in one hand so i have to put one in each hand so I can't cover their heads. And also as keyte1969 said, if I take one of them out the other one goes crazy and peeps extremely loud!

 

[duckman4450]

you're exactly right, if I leave one of them behind (there are 2) the other goes NUTS!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd sit on the floor an let them come to me, climbing all over or just sitting close. with something yummy like dried mealworms.