How long do they imprint?

[Tia Z.]

I have a six week old Mallard and she still treats me like her mama duck which I love! I don't want her to stop but she's getting ready to go outside soon, will she act like she never knew me once she's an outisde duck?

I bought two Muscovies because I felt like she needed friends, well they hate her and me so that was kind of a disaster. Oh well, they'll have a good home as long as they can tolerate me

 

[PrinceSandwich]

If they are with other ducklings they won't imprint on you, they will imprint on eachother. When they are older they may or may not still like you. I think they will always be friendly ( if you spend lots of time with them). If you want to know more about imprinting check this out http://www.thegoosesmother.com/id6.html

 

[SAORSA]

I have mallards too. We hatched the originals, (who imprinted on us and followed us around just like we were mamma duck till they were grown), and then let them hatch some of their own.
The ones we hatched are more friendly, but it has been a few years since we hatched them and they are strongly influenced by the now adult babies they raised themselves.
Before we let them have babies of their own they looked at us as mom and dad or at least as fellow ducks, (about two years).
The babies did not think of us as fellow ducks but when they were very small were not afraid of us because their parents weren't.
Now that they are "in production" they all look at us as "the great provider of the flock" and although they are not afraid of us don't want to be handled any more.