How much should ducklings be handled?

[Pollo Blanco]

Didn't seem to matter a lot with the Runners. They're like teenage girls; nice if they want something, trying to avoid being embarrassed by their parents the rest of the time.

 

[thumper650]

Just want to note to keep an eye on the temperature, especially since we're still in winter. Brand new ducklings usually require a heat lamp or equivalent in their brooder for the first couple weeks (and that's a recommendation that doesnt take into account the people who want to bond with them and dont just leave them alone in the brooder like a commercial farm would, so if you're taking them out of the brooder the heat might need to come along too) If you're walking around the house with a sweater on, they wont fair too well on the cold tile floor, for instance, so just be mindful of the temperature of the environment you're keeping them in while you're spending time with them.

They may also tire quickly because they're spending literally all of their energy in their first 4 weeks quadrupling in size, so a lot of your bonding time might be them intermittently napping. In the first two weeks with mine I'd lay on my stomach on the floor with a pillow under my chest and they'd hop up on the pillow and snuggle up under my chin/around my neck. And 5 minutes later they'd hop back down and eat. And then 5 minutes later it was nap time again.

Great point. Temp is important. I had mine in May and it was pretty warm here. They do sleep a lot. I felt like they trusted me when they'd fall asleep on me!

 

[chickengirl1278]

Make sure you spend lot's of time with them. As they get a few weeks older, you can start giving them earthworms as treats, ducks LOVE EARTHWORMS! Go sparingly on the worms though, they can be harder to digest. I had a runner duckling who actually let me set her in my lap and give her massages.