how to get ducklings to bond to a human

[Miss Lydia]

Its not like this hen is being abandoned she has 3 silkie chicks under her too.

Sorry I was thinking this was a duck mama who hatched out the babies and you were going to take her babies away, guess I should have gone back to the beginning

 

[Ultra]

In my experience, when you remove a duckling from it's imprinted mother, it screams bloody murder and won't shut up. Even the ducklings I have raised myself will cry if I leave them alone. Many nights I had to sleep with one hand inside the brooder.

You can try taking one away, but if it cries too much, I would suggest putting it back with the hen. You don't want to stress the duckling too much.

 

[Poultry Power]

True that's happend to a good friend of mine and we could not sleep even when we put it back with the mom

 

[Britesea]

I have 10 Khaki Campbells that came through the mail last Wednesday. They are currently living in a large box in the utility room. Every time anyone comes into the utility room, they act like they just got the memo that duck is on the menu-- they pile into the corner and desperately try to hide. I gave them a little bath yesterday and again today, with cut up lettuce to give them something to do and today they were much more enthusiastic about it and even forgot to be scared of me. They also ignored me after I put them back in their brooder box- as long as I stood still. Soon as I moved, it was back to panic mode.
I'm not expecting anything like pets, but I would like them to be a bit calmer about me moving around them. I'm afraid someone will get hurt with the panicked pileups. I don't have time to sit with them; will they eventually get used to me all the same? Otherwise, I don't see how I will be able to allow them any free range time-- don't want them to immediately head for the hills.

Also, right now their swim time is in the bathtub. How long can I let them play in there before they start to get tired and chilled? The water was about 85 deg.