How to get your ducks to like you?!?

[viennaproto]

Hello everyone! I have owned ducks and chickens for many years now and have mainly used them as just farm animals. (food, eggs, etc.) However, I recently lost my most recent flock of 6 ducks to a pack of coyotes and i am absolutely devastated. I am way more upset this time around because this was my friendliest and most social flock I have ever owned. After doing some research, I ordered a new flock of six call ducklings. I am wondering if any has any tips on how to make this flock love me I want to be able to walk over to them without them huddling in a corner and I would like to be able to pick them up and handle them as I have many young kids around the house that would love them as well. I am willing to put in as much time as need! Should I keep the brooder in my bedroom so they get used to (I do not mind the noise)? Should I let them walk around while I sit on the floor etc? In the past, my ducklings tend to peep very loud when I only hold one at a time and they always stay together as one flock. Any suggestions are appreciated, thank u guys!!

 

[Going Quackers]

Firstly, sorry to hear about your loses. I do completely understand i have lost Sheep and birds to coyote here.

I do own calls and my original pair were raised by me bought as day or two olds. I raised them in the house, they swam in the bathtub lol. Calls are probably the easiest to tame IMO of the breeds just the size alone makes them less intimidating and much easier to keep indoors longer.

My grandson calls mine "the little duckies" lol. Even he will go near them my bigger guys? (muscovy and pekin) not so much.

Ducks LOVE food and frankly it's the key to their hearts. Even my scovie drake flock come to me for food, and with the exception of two they were duck raised so never really handled at all.

I have a young pair of call drakes(last year different hatches) that are quite tame they were duck raised but i have made them pair up and have to hand remove them daily to a night vs day pen, they are super easy to catch.. it's just routine for them.

Good luck would love to see them! i have two calls on nests this year hopeful to get some babies!

 

[EverythingDucks]

I'm so sorry about your ducks Iv'e never lost a pet before (besides fish) so I can't imagine what you must be going though.. For the ducklings, I would just spend lots of time with them. Maybe sit in a bathroom (its easiest to clean up after them in a bathroom) with them and just feed them and give them treats. Try to handle them as much as possible, so they get used to being touched and pet. Please send pictures when you get them!

 

[viennaproto]

Firstly, sorry to hear about your loses. I do completely understand i have lost Sheep and birds to coyote here.

I do own calls and my original pair were raised by me bought as day or two olds. I raised them in the house, they swam in the bathtub lol. Calls are probably the easiest to tame IMO of the breeds just the size alone makes them less intimidating and much easier to keep indoors longer.

My grandson calls mine "the little duckies" lol. Even he will go near them my bigger guys? (muscovy and pekin) not so much.

Ducks LOVE food and frankly it's the key to their hearts. Even my scovie drake flock come to me for food, and with the exception of two they were duck raised so never really handled at all.

I have a young pair of call drakes(last year different hatches) that are quite tame they were duck raised but i have made them pair up and have to hand remove them daily to a night vs day pen, they are super easy to catch.. it's just routine for them.

Good luck would love to see them! i have two calls on nests this year hopeful to get some babies!

Thank you so much!! They were adorable but I understand that it is human nature for things like this to happen.
Your calls sound delightful!! I am so glad your grandson gets along well with them as I have small kids in and out of the house all the time.
Thank you so much for all this information-I greatly appreciate it !! I would love to see some pictures of the little duckies if you have any

 

[viennaproto]

I'm so sorry about your ducks Iv'e never lost a pet before (besides fish) so I can't imagine what you must be going though.. For the ducklings, I would just spend lots of time with them. Maybe sit in a bathroom (its easiest to clean up after them in a bathroom) with them and just feed them and give them treats. Try to handle them as much as possible, so they get used to being touched and pet. Please send pictures when you get them!

Thank you !! I miss them very much.
I will definitely use the bathroom method, I was thinking my bedroom but then I got scared because theres so many things they could hurt themselves on.

 

[RichL]

Hi, I too want to share my condolences.

All of the things you thought of are great. The more time you spend with them, the more they will trust you. Allow the ducklings to climb into your lap and let them fall asleep. Feed them treats like meal-worms and peas, but not too much. Every hour you invest now will pay off for the rest of their lives. If you plan on binge watching a show, feed the ducklings, get a towel and put them in your lap, soon they will settle down together and sleep. My ducks like my singing voice for some reason, not even my daughter likes my singing.

Keep in mind they all have their own personalities. I once had a female Peeking who just loved to sneak up behind people, locate a fold of skin, and bite it for all she was worth. I swear she ran away laughing every time. I was never able to break her of the habit. She wasn't shy around people she would eat out pf your hand and when done sneak behind you and leave a bruise.

Anyway, my oldest girl has bonded with my father-in-law. she met him six months ago, as an adult and fell in love. She runs right up to him and just keeps quacking until he picks her up. Then she is content to be held as long as he will hold her. She tolerates me picking her up but would prefer that I didn't. So you just never know.

You may want to also include a ping-pong ball to play with on the floor and in the water. and put some peas in the bath and let them dive for them. The more you stimulate their young minds the more they will associate you with fun.

 

[Going Quackers]

Thank you so much!! They were adorable but I understand that it is human nature for things like this to happen.
Your calls sound delightful!! I am so glad your grandson gets along well with them as I have small kids in and out of the house all the time.
Thank you so much for all this information-I greatly appreciate it !! I would love to see some pictures of the little duckies if you have any

Hmm i will check through and see if i have some, i should..

I find calls the perfect "pet duck" they are extremely social, very cute and so hardy, mine swim in ice bowls all winter long.

They are very delicate the first couple of days but afterwards are just insane how tough they are, maybe it's that "little dog syndrome" or "Banty roo" lol.

I will say though calls are very loud(females) and they fly, like mallards fly, i have mine netted or roofs installed to keep them in.

 

[viennaproto]

Hmm i will check through and see if i have some, i should..

I find calls the perfect "pet duck" they are extremely social, very cute and so hardy, mine swim in ice bowls all winter long.

They are very delicate the first couple of days but afterwards are just insane how tough they are, maybe it's that "little dog syndrome" or "Banty roo" lol.

I will say though calls are very loud(females) and they fly, like mallards fly, i have mine netted or roofs installed to keep them in.

Good to know, thank you so much again!! I used to have to heat up my water for my Pekins, they were so stubborn LOL. I am not too worried about them being loud as I live in the middle of no where haha! My run is covered and when I let my flock "free range" a little bit (not actually free range) I use an outdoor playpen and cover it with small holed hockey netting. You have been a wealth of information, Thank you !!

 

[viennaproto]

Hi, I too want to share my condolences.

All of the things you thought of are great. The more time you spend with them, the more they will trust you. Allow the ducklings to climb into your lap and let them fall asleep. Feed them treats like meal-worms and peas, but not too much. Every hour you invest now will pay off for the rest of their lives. If you plan on binge watching a show, feed the ducklings, get a towel and put them in your lap, soon they will settle down together and sleep. My ducks like my singing voice for some reason, not even my daughter likes my singing.

Keep in mind they all have their own personalities. I once had a female Peeking who just loved to sneak up behind people, locate a fold of skin, and bite it for all she was worth. I swear she ran away laughing every time. I was never able to break her of the habit. She wasn't shy around people she would eat out pf your hand and when done sneak behind you and leave a bruise.

Anyway, my oldest girl has bonded with my father-in-law. she met him six months ago, as an adult and fell in love. She runs right up to him and just keeps quacking until he picks her up. Then she is content to be held as long as he will hold her. She tolerates me picking her up but would prefer that I didn't. So you just never know.

You may want to also include a ping-pong ball to play with on the floor and in the water. and put some peas in the bath and let them dive for them. The more you stimulate their young minds the more they will associate you with fun.

Hey there! Thank you so much- they are missed dearly but lived a great life.
Thank you for all your awesome suggestions, I will do this!! I am excited to spend a lot of time with them as I am very bored in quarantine LOL.
That is adorable that your older girlie has bonded with your father-in-law! I can picture how cute that must have been. The pingpong ball is a great idea as well, I have never tried that !
Thank you again for all your great information you have been such a big help

 

[Going Quackers]

Good to know, thank you so much again!! I used to have to heat up my water for my Pekins, they were so stubborn LOL. I am not too worried about them being loud as I live in the middle of no where haha! My run is covered and when I let my flock "free range" a little bit (not actually free range) I use an outdoor playpen and cover it with small holed hockey netting. You have been a wealth of information, Thank you !!

LOL that's to funny with your pekin, mine are pretty tough.. actually the drake is a bit to much and loves to bully the Muscovy here.

The calls are pretty determined to swim in all seasons, all temps. That's just how they are.