Help! New duck keeper here :-p

[Megsilver]

I purchased 3, 1yr old pekins yesterday. 2 females and a male (maybe 3 females...the lady I bought them from was unsure of the one because they are molting so their feathers are a coming out in back, but it sounds like a male to me).

I didn't realize until I went to pick them up that teu have pretty much been free ranging. I have a nice little run for them set up in the corner of my yard, complete with a house, pool, food & water. I would like to allow them to free range at times, but I'm nervous for that and so for now, I'd like to just keep them as they are.

The problem is that as soon as I put them in their run, they all went to the back corner, behind and under the duck house and that's pretty much where they stay. I assumes that it was because it was hot yesterday and they wanted to escape the heat of the sun and find a now shady spot. I also figured that since it's a new place for them, that they just needed some time to adjust.

Well they have stayed there all day today too! I have seen them out at the feeder from my window inside, but if I go out to them, they run right back to their corner.

I have experience with keeping chickens, but the whole duck thing is new to me. Is this normal? Are they still adjusting? Maybe it's because, as the lady had said, they are molting?

I'm really looking forward to having fun with my ducks, so I'm hoping that they come around. It's really only been a day and a half.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[sourland]

Feed is the great equalizer. They are fearful and still adjusting to their new home. If they were mine, I would provide small quantities of feed frequently during the day. At this point in time, I would not provide feed ad lib. Give them time to adjust to their new home and to associate you with feed, and they should come around. Good luck in taming them.