How do I convince my ducks I'm friendly!?

[DuckyBabies]

Treats treats treats. My ducks only love me when I have food my boys are both very cautious of me and my kids unless we have food. My cayuga still backs off a little, but my pekin will get in our faces if we have food. He gets so excited, but it took a while to get them there. When I don’t have food, they run from me. I can’t pet them because I can never catch them. So food is definitely a huge motivator!

 

[thumper650]

I find just being around them and not paying attention helps. Sometimes I read a book outside in their area. Make sure you look the same to them, my husband went to lock the boys up before we went for a bike ride, he had a bike helmet on, and my pekins were not happy about it!

 

[ShannonR]

The poop...
It really is crazy. We just have 3 and wow do they poop a lot. We moved then to the pond a week or two early just so we didn't have to clean out the brooder any more.

And this, is exactly why I don't keep ducks anymore. Yuck.

 

[thumper650]

And this, is exactly why I don't keep ducks anymore. Yuck.

 

[ShannonR]

View attachment 1846239

Yes, but ducks seem to poop exponentially more than any other animals, including human babies! And they insisted on doing it on my porch

 

[BReeder!]

Yes, but ducks seem to poop exponentially more than any other animals, including human babies! And they insisted on doing it on my porch

We had a tasty under a large waterer in the brooder. The tray would fill with water the ducks spilled. Then they would splash it everywhere. And then the would poop... which meant wet poop all over. That was the real problem. The wet poop wad messier and smelled worse. Now that they are out in the pond, they can poop away. We haven't noticed a poop problem in the last 2 days around the pond since they've been out there. There are also 8 fish in the pond too large for the ducks to eat. I imagine the fish, mostly koi, will eat the duck poop that gets into the pond.

 

[thumper650]

Ive noticed that my ducks, especially my new skittish ones, poop when I approach them. I wonder if it’s an instinct, so they can fly easier, with a little less weight.

 

[ShannonR]

Ive noticed that my ducks, especially my new skittish ones, poop when I approach them. I wonder if it’s an instinct, so they can fly easier, with a little less weight.

Either that or they are so nervous they poop themselves, perhaps. I dunno!

 

[ketojenn]

I guess I don't have a duck poop problem
The chickens crap EVERYWHERE. The ducks crap mostly in the pond. I don't keep food or water in the coops, so they stay pretty dry and smell free.

 

[McChics]

This is a great thread! It confirms...mine are "normal" then. Man...when I have the red top container with peas...they come running. They watch me from far off and if they don't see that in my hands...they don't pay me any attention. But, when the sun starts to set and we are on the porch hanging out - they come and hang out in our general area...always looking to see if I might happen to have a red top container in my hands (which I sometimes do ). They are getting a little better about picking them up, but usually have to do the corner them thing to get a hold. Sometimes while feeding peas I draw them in close and reach down and pick one up.

I'd say...food/treats is the way to their hearts. Yesterday I was able to get the four of them to follow me through the gate, across the field and down to the creek...and back...with the magic red top container!