help taming young muscovys?

[chickensval]

I recently bought two ducklings from someone in town.I don't know how old they are but they are Muscovy. I never worked with ducks but we recently moved to a farm with a big pond so I thought why not? I am experienced with hatching and raising chickens to be pets, but these two ducklings aren't very friendly but they aren't mean. They are very afraid of people. They don't have feathers yet if that helps with the age... But anytime we go near the brooder they struggle to get away and they try the best they can to avoid us. I wanted to get ducks because I heard that they imprint really well on humans I am going to get a gosling tomorrow I noticed that the person I am buying from has some not-so-tame goslings too... Any tips on how I can tame them and create a bond between us? I really do appreciate any help from you guys. Thank you. God Bless.

 

[Going Quackers]

Food and time, ducks are prey animals so that is what your fighting against, here is a treat chart which will help.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/242460/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements

I have some 'pet' ducks and some farm ducks, basically my being there often, trying treats in my hands, bathing them, gently handling them(ducks aren't fond of being picked up, touched that much)

Gets them all quite tamed down, my calls are intense and don't like to be out of your sight, that is a bit to much the opposite way frankly lol

Good luck! we'd love to see pictures! i mainly own Muscovy here, so am quite familiar with them.

 

[Amiga]

Welcome!

Time, patience, treats, time, patience, treats, approach them making gentle sounds, and stay low.

If they are a few weeks old, and similar to mallard-derived ducklings, their instincts have likely kicked in so anything taller than they are is scary.

I spent hours and hours just sitting with my ducks, I gave them treats, and they still went through the you-are-an-axe-murderer phase. Heartbreaking.

But we came through it several weeks later, everyone is friendly, glad to see me, a few like pets, no one likes to be picked up.

Remember that predators will come out of nowhere to try to eat your babies.

There are some good threads here on security.

 

[chickensval]

Food and time, ducks are prey animals so that is what your fighting against, here is a treat chart which will help.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/242460/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements

I have some 'pet' ducks and some farm ducks, basically my being there often, trying treats in my hands, bathing them, gently handling them(ducks aren't fond of being picked up, touched that much)

Gets them all quite tamed down, my calls are intense and don't like to be out of your sight, that is a bit to much the opposite way frankly lol

Good luck! we'd love to see pictures! i mainly own Muscovy here, so am quite familiar with them.

Thanks for the tips, Lol. And I would post pics, but I'm on my phone. >.<