Help my ducks to like me?

[BradenLeeP]

I've got 5 ducks that are all about 4 months old, all also different breeds which include: 1 female (for sure) Rouen, 1 Magpie, 2 blue Swedish, and a Blue Runner. When they were little and I had them inside, I would take them out several times a day and interact with them to try and get them to be friendly or playful. It seems as they got older though that they don't like being around people.
I'm always the one who goes out to feed and water them, plus fill up their little wading pool and its about the only time they even get close to me. I make a habit every time I go out to corner and hold every one of them. They're (mostly) fine once I pick them up; sometimes they'll flap their wings and kick their feet but usually are pretty decent. We've also moved and made a new coop in a hurry for all of them. It's by far more space than the last coop we had but doesn't have boxes, roosts, or even a door yet...
I've read several threads here on BYC about how to encourage them to be more friendly. I'm not expecting a miracle and have them jump in my lap, but to play and come up to me would be nice. I'm guessing the best way to help is to bribe them with treats, from the other threads I've read... If anybody has some insight to several questions I have.... because well, I'm new to having ducks (raised chickens).

1. Why would it feel like they are all regressing with being picked up? I understand the idea of imprinting on one another, but to be become more scared of me as they get older?

2. What kind of treats can I bait them to start to trust me more? I throw scratch to them and the chickens, put sinking duck treats in the wading pool, dried little shrimps, meal worms. They like them all, but its difficult to segregate the ducks from themselves and from the chickens if I don't throw treats out to the others (they all want some).

3. Is treats and patience the best option? Has holding them been the wrong approach to get friendly ducks?

4. Will being friendly depend on the breed and gender?

5. Can I expect, at their age, if they will ever be friendly?

6. Could moving and changing their schedule/environment been a part of the behavior?

I appreciate everyone taking the time to read and be a part of the discussion! If I get time in the next couple of days, I'd like to post pictures of them if anyone is interested? haha (crickets). Also, I've been researching the thought of someday, when my duckies get old and grey, to try and hatch my own little baby duckies and give "imprinting" a chance. Ideas/Thoughts? I know I'm inexperienced and sound dumb, but I appreciate everyone taking the time to help! Thank you!

 

[Maddog_photog]

1) ducks go through a “teenage phase” when they’ll act like you’re Michael Myers and everyday is Halloween. Treats are the great equalizer. That’s the only reason I could see them regressing as they age from wanting to be picked up. That, and keep in mind that they are prey animals, which translates into getting caught means being killed for them.
2) PEAS! Peas! PEAS! Cannot stress this enough! All 4 of my ducks love peas! It’s like crack for ducks, or as I like to call it “quack”
3) honestly cannot answer this one. With my ducks, my first two - although friendly - are clearly not as friendly as #3 & 4. What I suspect happened is that 1 & 2 imprinted on eachother and bonded with me, whereas #3 & 4 imprinted on me and bonded with eachother.
4) breed could have some say in temperament. Metzer farms has a breed comparison chart that rates breeds on many things, including temperament. I think it was @Miss Lydia who has pointed out that, raised in the right environment, any breed could be friendly and calm or any breed could be shy and skittish.
5) I personally do not believe that they are too old to become friendly. It may take a little more work, but I have the utmost faith in you to make it happen.
6) Ducks love routine and change is scary for all of us, especially dux! If you’re pulling them out of an old routine get them in a new routine that you can be consistent in.

I hope this helps at least a little bit! I am a first timer, and I absolutely love my ducks!! I have two 12-week old Pekins and two 5-week old Swedish Blue. Everywhere I went online, I was told Pekins would be the friendliest breed, and Swedish were not even on my radar! I had originally ordered two mallards with my Pekins and after several weeks of waiting for the Hatcher, swapped out for the blues, and I’m glad I did! They follow me around everywhere, which absolutely never gets old! They are noticeably friendlier than my Pekins! Life is strange, sometime.

 

[nchls school]

I've read several threads here on BYC about how to encourage them to be more friendly. I'm not expecting a miracle and have them jump in my lap, but to play and come up to me would be nice. I'm guessing the best way to help is to bribe them with treats, Yes, they do love their food.from the other threads I've read... If anybody has some insight to several questions I have.... because well, I'm new to having ducks (raised chickens).

1. Why would it feel like they are all regressing with being picked up? I understand the idea of imprinting on one another, but to be become more scared of me as they get older?
My call ducks were very wild as ducklings and I gave up trying to hold them. But as they grew they became less scared, and now I have to watch my step so I do not step on them. My ducks hated being held, but will come very close to me and look for handouts.
2. What kind of treats can I bait them to start to trust me more? I throw scratch to them and the chickens, put sinking duck treats in the wading pool, dried little shrimps, meal worms. They like them all, but its difficult to segregate the ducks from themselves and from the chickens if I don't throw treats out to the others (they all want some). Meal worms are the favorite treat of my ducks. The worms float; try sprinkling them on their pool where the chicken are less apt to eat them up. Crickets are also a favorite. It's a real hoot to watch their daily hunting expeditions.

3. Is treats and patience the best option?YES! Has holding them been the wrong approach to get friendly ducks?And yes again; in my opinion. When I stopped trying to hold the ducklings they gradually stopped fleeing every time they saw me.

4. Will being friendly depend on the breed and gender? What I am saying is true for mallards and calls. Since most breeds have wild mallards as ancestors I figure its probably true for all mallard type breeds.

5. Can I expect, at their age, if they will ever be friendly?Certainly, they will learn what side the bread is buttered; meaning, you, as the food source will be at the center of their lives. I think one duckling can come to accept being held, but more than one..All birds tend to feed off each others' fears; one gets scared and all are scared.

6. Could moving and changing their schedule/environment been a part of the behavior? I do not think so as long as they feel secure. My five call ducks share the yard with a flock of bantams, six turkeys, a flock of pigeons, the resident possum who lives under the house, and eight small dogs.

I appreciate everyone taking the time to read and be a part of the discussion! If I get time in the next couple of days, I'd like to post pictures of them if anyone is interested?We love pictures! haha (crickets). Also, I've been researching the thought of someday, when my duckies get old and grey, to try and hatch my own little baby duckies and give "imprinting" a chance. Ideas/Thoughts?If you like ducks, go for it. Just so you know, duckling grow up fast-depending on breed. My oldest calls are 14 weeks and just stated courtship behavior. I was told that egg laying could begin as early as 16 week of age.I know I'm inexperienced and sound dumb, but I appreciate everyone taking the time to help! Thank you!
Actually, you have asked good questions and if you're dumb, so am I, along with 99% of BYC.

 

[corriemartin]

I have this issue too. I spend as much time as I can with my ducks, and as they get older, they seem much less alarmed by my presence. If I actually sit down, they'll come pretty near, to see if I have any clover to feed them (they love the red clover flowers). I'm conscious about moving slowly and smoothly, and they no longer RUN away from me (instead, they'll just stand up, quack a lot, and maybe move a little distance before settling down again). I'm confident that they'll continue to get better. But picking them up....no way! One of them was limping pretty badly for a couple days, and I had to catch her to examine her foot and leg, and that was majorly traumatic for all of them. It would have been better if they would let me do that.....

 

[BradenLeeP]

Just thought I'd give everyone an update, it seems like this question is a hot topic around a lot of places. I've used different treats and foods to start to get both my chickens and ducks to like me more, which has actually worked. For less than a week, I haven't tried to pick up or follow any of my birds around. I have only went in and gave them food, water, and treats. It has shown so much improvement! Around the same time every day, they will now follow me around. They seem to know exactly what is going to happen and actually which bag has the favorite treats in them. I tried some fresh frozen peas that were thawed out, but nobody in the herd seemed to like them.... at all haha. However, Boon-worms seem to be everyone's favorite. I have gotten several of my ducks, including my least friendly and most of the chickens, to eat them out of my hand at least once. Just an update, but I thought I'd let everyone know how it's progress is! Like I said, it has only been 5 days and I have seen the attitude of my birds change completely

 

[Maddog_photog]

Just thought I'd give everyone an update, it seems like this question is a hot topic around a lot of places. I've used different treats and foods to start to get both my chickens and ducks to like me more, which has actually worked. For less than a week, I haven't tried to pick up or follow any of my birds around. I have only went in and gave them food, water, and treats. It has shown so much improvement! Around the same time every day, they will now follow me around. They seem to know exactly what is going to happen and actually which bag has the favorite treats in them. I tried some fresh frozen peas that were thawed out, but nobody in the herd seemed to like them.... at all haha. However, Boon-worms seem to be everyone's favorite. I have gotten several of my ducks, including my least friendly and most of the chickens, to eat them out of my hand at least once. Just an update, but I thought I'd let everyone know how it's progress is! Like I said, it has only been 5 days and I have seen the attitude of my birds change completely

Good to hear this! Sounds like you’re doing great and all the right things! Keep it up!

 

[corriemartin]

Just thought I'd give everyone an update, it seems like this question is a hot topic around a lot of places. I've used different treats and foods to start to get both my chickens and ducks to like me more, which has actually worked. For less than a week, I haven't tried to pick up or follow any of my birds around. I have only went in and gave them food, water, and treats. It has shown so much improvement! Around the same time every day, they will now follow me around. They seem to know exactly what is going to happen and actually which bag has the favorite treats in them. I tried some fresh frozen peas that were thawed out, but nobody in the herd seemed to like them.... at all haha. However, Boon-worms seem to be everyone's favorite. I have gotten several of my ducks, including my least friendly and most of the chickens, to eat them out of my hand at least once. Just an update, but I thought I'd let everyone know how it's progress is! Like I said, it has only been 5 days and I have seen the attitude of my birds change completely

Sounds great--and like a great plan.

I was out working a ways away from the duck yard yesterday, and FOUR times, they all came out and were grazing right next to me. And one of the times when I had to go back to the barn yesterday to get something, they followed me! I was totally surprised.

Keep up the good work!!!

 

[KaleIAm]

I've had ducks for a little over 5 years now. I have 3 left, one who I have had since she was a day old and the other two were abandoned on a pond. The abandoned two were quite fearful of me for several months, then followed me around and ate from my hand - so I feel I am probably good at taming ducks.

1. My opinion is that if something is scary to them continuing to do it will reinforce to them that you are the scary person who does scary things. And they will avoid you. I still do not pick up my ducks unless they are unwell and feel I need to. I recommend you stop.

2. This depends on what your ducks' favorite treat is. Mine love mealworms and tomato but refuse peas. Other ducks love peas. Mealworms seem universal.

3. Yes, treats and patience and avoid everything scary. This means don't look directly at them - look next to them instead. Don't walk directly at them. Anything that makes them jump or run away from you - don't do! It won't be that way forever, just until they know you are trustworthy and aren't going to pick them up anymore. I would spend as much time as possible with them - not looking at them. Read a book, eat dinner, nap near them, and throw mealworms increasingly closer to yourself. I spent a lot of time gardening with my ducks. They quickly began to associate me with worms coming out of the dirt. Positive association is key.

4. Some people say so, but it hasn't been my experience.

5. My most shy duck suddenly decided she was a loving pet duck at age 6 just a couple months ago. Technically she had been a pet for 5 years, but we joked that she thought she was a wild duck. Now she hops right into my lap. I'm allowed to gently stroke her chest while feeding her tomatoes. She gently kisses my cheek. She preens my hair. She gazes loving into my eyes and peeps!! So... No, they aren't too old. It probably won't take 5 years. Just avoid being scary and make sure all your interactions are delicious.

6. It could be, ducks dislike change a lot. But I bet it is your handling. If I started picking up my ducks everyday they would avoid me, too.

 

[LT71689]

I think basically any animal calms down as it gets older and just simply gets used to things. I've got a 14yo cat who HATED me for a solid decade only to become the sweetest snuggliest absolutely needy little attention seeking baby in her old age. She YELLS at me to come get in bed so we can snuggle. Hated me for an entire lifetime! Hopefully it wont take your ducks quite as long.

Mine are still just a couple weeks but even in that span they've gone through their phases. We went from having to take small shuffling steps because they needed to be ON my feet when they were out of their pen to now letting me wander the house and only checking on me if they havent seen me in a while. They used to climb all over me when I sat on the floor with them and now they dont like me holding them much. They want to know where I am at all times and be NEAR me and will sometimes come chew on my clothes, but if I reach out to pet them or try to hold them they act like it's a massacre. I lay on a daybed outside while they're in their pool and they will jump up on it with me to dry off and sometimes snuggle up to my legs and let me pet them there, but only there. I dont know what it is about that spot, I certainly couldnt get on the ground/floor with them anywhere else and do that. You might have to find a special spot with them where contact is "acceptable"

And treats helps, treats help everything