HELPP!! :(

[nchls school]

I applaud you, Sam, in seeking advice when you realized that what you were doing wasn't working. Many "adults" would not have bothered; instead Guus would have been Sunday dinner, or worse, confined to a cage where he truly would have been miserable. I wish my best in all that you try.

 

[GitaBooks]

SamGuus, I know exactly what its like! I loved and took great care of my kitten and he still tries to bite me when ever I pet him, unless he wants a treat, of it he's scared. But he's my baby boy, and I love him. I've learned just to talk to him and give him his space. Whatever works for you. I know you take excellent care of him.


Shortgrass, I agree with a lot of what you say about animal behavior, as I study animal behavior and it makes sense.


Both of you guys are right in many of the things you are saying, so please don't argue.

 

[SamSimone]

I seriously just got a message from the website owner that I have to watch my language and not assault people, is this for real?!
I am definitely not assaulting anyone, someone else was though

 

[casportpony]

Hi guys,

I really hope you can help me on this one!

I've got a male Indian runner duck named Guus.
He is 15 months old now, and he has real bad moodswings.
He's the only duck we have, but we do have three chickens, three bunny's and two dogs.
He loves the dogs and goes on walks with them and even plays with them.
Some days he is so adorable, he'll come sit on my lap and cuddle all night. He falls asleep in my arms and he has tought himself not to poop on me haha.

But on other days he drives me insane!

He usually walks around in the backyard but we have got a coop too.

He has got his own bathtub, gets plenty of attention and treats.

When he gets up on the wrong side of the bed I will notice immediately, he will start screaming at me and he will try to bite my arms and hands when I take him out of the coop.
He will chase you around the garden all day, and he even follows you inside.
He has bitten me, my sister and my mom so bad we have got bruises everywhere and sometimes even until we bleed.
He doesn't bite my best (male) friend or my dad, I don't know why.

I have tried absolutely everything!
Sit on top of him and hold his head down, sit like that for five minutes. (Not with any weight, just so you are dominant)
Ignore him, punish him, lock him away, yell at him, let him do it until he gets tired, but nothing works!

I love him so so much, especially on his sweet days, but I don't know if I will be able to keep him if it continues this way.

Pleeaaasseee help!

Every tip is more then welcome!

Hope you guys can help

Love,
Sam

He needs a girlfriend.

-Kathy

 

[SamSimone]

He needs a girlfriend.

-Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for your advice but that's not going to work since he does not respond to other ducks, I've already tried

 

[casportpony]

Quote: How long did you leave him alone with the other ducks, and were they female?

-Kathy

 

[SamSimone]

Yeah they were female, about five or six of them.
We visited them every day for about a week but he just ran away from them and went to sit with my dogs

How long did you leave him alone with the other ducks, and were they female? 

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Yeah they were female, about five or six of them.
We visited them every day for about a week but he just ran away from them and went to sit with my dogs
Quote: He would need to be housed with them for several weeks.

-Kathy

 

[SamSimone]

I don't have any room for more, I will try the parrot training and see how that will work out, thanks

 

[shortgrass]

Dear Shortgrass,

I have only used techniques on him which I got from professionals.
As I stated earlier I do not sit on him with any weight whatsoever, I am just on top of him so he gets that I am te boss of him.
And yes, when he is biting my ankles until it bleeds I sometimes find it necessary to yell (I have never hurt him back though) As you can read, none of these techniques worked, and since all I want is for Guus to be happy, I asked the question to get serious responses. I do everything I can to make him happy, and he is the most spoiled duck in the world. I have tried playmates too, but he is not used to other ducks and does not respond to them. Have a great day,

Love,
Sam

edited by staff

I apologize that my advice wasnt what you wanted to hear... However, I responded with serious, EXPERIENCED advice. I will stick by what I said, gruff as it may have seemed. Please look into imprinting; study what might have went wrong. You have stated you cannot get him a mate, so you are stuck with retraining yourself, and your duck, or accepting the behavior until you are forced to rehome him. It's about the duck and his needs. It's just that simple if you want to keep peace. Advice is advice, constructive criticism included.