How Far Can Ducks Be Trained?

[Knighstar679]

We've only had our duck for about a month and a half (rescued from a local park), but she will listen to me (not my kids or husband) when I say "Go into your house." I say it every single time she goes in there, and I offer encouragement in the form of "pushing" her from behind (I just get very close to her and hold my hands close so she feels compelled to move forward). When she's inside, she knows she gets tasty treats, and she feels safe in there, so she goes in willingly.

I have limited experience with ducks right now, but lots of experience with lots of other animals, so for any animal to learn any behavior, it has to be something that they are already likely to do, there has to be a lot of repetition, some sort of reward, and since mine only seems to listen to me, they may only follow whoever they see as the leader of the group

my ducks are playing follow the leader duck. Because he hates the duck house every one else will run away from it when he does. Makes lock up time irritating because everyone else gets in and then he will go in and the poof out he goes the everyone else barges out too. I never had this many problems with their old house this one they hate with a royal passion.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I've always wanted to teach mine to ride a little bicycle. Watch them waddle, doesn't it look like they could?

Careful what you wish for! - You may get more than you want:
Early Sunday morning your phone rings and you pick up: »Magnolia Sheriff's Department, am i speaking with @Magnolia Ducks ?«
»Yes, that's me on the phone.«
»Do you own a silver truck with the license plate ********?«
»Yes, that's my truck!«
»Do you also know an individual by the name of "Barbra Lewis"?«
»Yes i know her… what the duck is goin on?«
»Well Ma'am, in fact Barbra Lewis took your truck and drove to TSC to buy some meal-worms as she claims. Unfortunately she got harassed by a Coyote and Bobcat on the way and ran them over...«

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Omg. Barbra Lewis is here!

 

[TurkeyGoat]

One of my favorite things to do with the ducks is hold a pea above their heads and make them jump for it. In my experience, the Blue Swedish were always the most enthusiastic and could jump the highest. Have you all tried this?

 

[johntfs]

Honestly if you were going to train ducks to do anything it would be to use a litter box or some other designated "poop area" for easier cleanup. I recall an article by some animal behaviorist who said it was possible, but have yet to hear of any actual human beings accomplishing this miracle.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

One of my favorite things to do with the ducks is hold a pea above their heads and make them jump for it. In my experience, the Blue Swedish were always the most enthusiastic and could jump the highest. Have you all tried this?

Duck torture

 

[TurkeyGoat]

Duck torture

Naw, they always get the pea. It's like making a dog sit before giving him a treat.

 

[TurkeyGoat]

Also, I'd like to know -- am I the only person who pats his ducks on the head when they're standing nearby?

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Also, I'd like to know -- am I the only person who pats his ducks on the head when they're standing nearby?

I do it to the drake and then he bites me. I make the dog sit till her bowls full. I think it's manners, she thinks it torture.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

One of my favorite things to do with the ducks is hold a pea above their heads and make them jump for it. In my experience, the Blue Swedish were always the most enthusiastic and could jump the highest. Have you all tried this?

You can come here and try that with Blanca, Earthquack, Alba and Bazilla Duck, my voracious White Layers aka. »The White Panzer Brigade of West Duckginia«. - You will be risking fingers, eyes and ears! => We want our peas and we want them now!