How To Pick Up A Duck? Video Anyone?

[kysilkies]

I still, after 4 mths, have the worse time trying to pick up a duck, does anyone have a video or can share a technique or two?!?!

 

[Duck_feeder]

What exactly is the problem you're having? Catching them? Holding them so they don't wiggle free?

 

[kysilkies]

Yes, holding them, none of them run from us, even after I drop them on their face trying ;-(

 

[RedfogsFlock]

Well we've only had ours two days, BUT


When we finally catch ours we slide one hand under their breast area until we feel their center of gravity equal out. Then with the other hand we support their neck. We only slide our hand back till you feel them not wanting to "tip" out of your hands! Oh and hold em close to you for added support.

I don't think it's wrong and ours will let us hold em this way. Believe me ours ABSOLUTELY HATE BEING HELD! When held this way though they relax and don't fight to get away. Hope it helps! Like I said we've only had ours two days.

 

[Parrotchick]

I can't tell you the "proper" way as I don't get to do a lot of duck holding unfortunately. I've had my muscovy drake since he was a few days old and he's very easy to pick up and hold-kind of like an affectionate cat. He used to "paddle" his feet in protest, but doesn't anymore. But my pekins, as otherwise friendly as they are, don't like to be caught which is a bummer since they're sooooo soft.

What I will tell you is to be very careful putting them down. Try to set them down on the ground as much as you can rather than letting them tumble out of your arms. Last Sunday I picked up my female pekin Pong. She squirmed and jumped out of my arms, no more than 2-3 feet from the ground. I didn't notice anything funny about her landing. A few minutes later I noticed a very profound limp. I took her to a friend down the road who's a wildlife rehabber. Pong's leg was swollen around the "knee" and it was determined that she had a sprain or twist, but that in her case it was better not to wrap it. I brought her home to her normal set up: she has safe pen and my flock is very mellow and wouldn't bother her. She even laid an egg that night. She limped for a few more days but is all better now.

My friend said that sometimes ducks just land funny and that even though it was close to the ground, duck legs are kind of fragile. Good luck!

 

[DuckLady]

I just take hold with both hands around their wings and then carry them under my arm like a football.

 

[Duck_feeder]

I don't have videos but I can at least explain how I hold them.

I hold them with both hands around the body and if they are facing away from me (how I usually hold them when moving them) I use my thumbs to hold down their wings. Our ducks are all runners so their body shape and size makes this easier to do than it would for a larger duck like a pekin. When they are facing me, I use my fingers to hold down the wings. If they are trying to flap like crazy I will hold them facing away from me and hold their wings against my chest so I can use my hands to secure their body and not worry about the wings.

Our ducks have different temperaments and preferences so some rather be facing me and others facing away.

The angle that I hold my ducks makes a difference too. Victor calms down if I tilt him so his belly is facing up. In fact Victor will let you cradle him I your arms like a baby. Moxy on the other hand prefers her body upright and kicks a lot more if I tilt her belly up. Moxy like it when Nettie holds Moxy facing towards Nettie and supports her like you would a child (one arm holding the weight under the ducks butt and the other supporting the back).

When the ducks are being snots and kicking a lot, I'll wrap them in a towel before picking them up. That holds the wings in place and reduces the kicking (in the very least protects me from their nails of death. lol)

Victor and Ollie both feel the urge to fly when they are picked up. I'll grab them lower around the body by the legs and release their wings and let them flap as I move them to where we're going. They will lean in the direction they want to turn and I'll turn them in that direction to make them happy. Victor stops flapping as soon as we get to where he wants to be (fortunately he knows his daily routine so it's usually the same place as where I want him to be!)

Vinny and Moxy are so docile that I can pick them up by placing my hand and arm under their belly and between their legs (palm facing up) and just lifting straight up. Very convenient when I just need to move them over a short wall.

 

[kysilkies]

Quote:
I tried this, I just don't think my technique is right which is why I want to see it, hopefully..

 

[DuckLady]

Try holding them backwards under your arm.

I carry Hugo around that way all the time. He feels it necessary to help me do things by weaving in and out of my feet. and If I carry him with his head facing forward, he finds it important to nibble any part of my flesh he can get in his bill. So I carry him backwards.

 

[rainplace]

This is how I hold my bantams.

I couldn't find a a picture for how I carry my larger ducks, but I also face them backwards. Hand palm up, supporting their belly with their legs held in place between my fingers. One leg between index and middle finger, other leg between either pinky and ring finger, or ring finger and middle finger... depends how easy it is for me get that last leg. Once the legs are secure they go docile. Some of our ducks are docile as soon as the hand supports the belly, but most will keep moving their feet and aren't docile until they are secure. The wings naturally fit in against your body on one side and the arm you are carrying them with on the other. Though sometimes the wing against your arms will need to be tucked in a little to secure it properly.

I hope that helps.