I’m pretty sure my ducklings hate me

[Squacking]

So my ducklings hatched April 17 and 18 and I’m pretty sure they hate me lol. They “bite” at me and “scream” when they see me coming and try to hide from me. So much for imprinting lol

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

All ducklings go through the axe murderer stage. One group of my current ones begin to scream as soon as they see me. The other broader full is like meh. They will get over it in a few weeks.

 

[Squacking]

I hear I can win their favor with peas and scrambled eggs…so I’m thinking of trying that after my son’s baseball practice

 

[CrazyChicken Lady]

Most do that. They imprint and are all snuggly young but will mature and not be so snuggly. Eventually as they get older they will be more friendly and calm.

 

[Lor]

My ducks are 4 yrs old and still won't let us come near unless we are carrying their bucket of peas.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Peas are the universal good will.

 

[BelovedBirds]

So my ducklings hatched April 17 and 18 and I’m pretty sure they hate me lol. They “bite” at me and “scream” when they see me coming and try to hide from me. So much for imprinting lol

They don't hate you, ducks don't think like we do, they aren't resentful towards you or anything like that. Simply put, they're prey animals and their instincts kick in, we're big compared to them, and it can be scary for them when we walk over or try to catch them.
I've heard they go through a fearful stage. Personally I didn't experience this with my two, I spent a lot of time with them everyday and the worst that happened was the oldest began moving away from me if I tried to pick her up, and sometimes if I attempted to stroke her. She's back to herself now and will actually choose to be picked up.
But this was likely because I only had two, the more you have the more they'll bounce off of eachother's fears. If one freaks out, likely they all will.
How much time do you spend with them? The trick is to earn their trust, and while treats can help, the only real way to do that is to spend time around them. Just sit with them, close to their food source or a bowl of treats, and just let them hide, and panic, until eventually they calm. Talk to them in a soothing voice, and spend lots of time near them.
Hopefully as they calm with age, and as they get used to you near them, they'll be okay with you.

 

[Snibborg]

We have a mature female duck that lived outside for all of her 8 years. She was the last survivor of the flock having spent most of her time being the enforcer for the matriarch of the flock. When she died she was alone and out of work.

We'd got some more ducklings from our local breeder and started raising them. The bird flu arrived and we had to bring our older bird indoors for her own safety. We were concerned that she would never accept being indoors with the 'weird featherless ducks', and as for the ducklings...

Anyways she started running with them when they did their zoomies, whilst outside. When she got indoors she took on the matriarchal role as she had been taught by her predecessor.

Since then she has settled in well and much prefers indoor life, wandering round and receiving cuddles from her weird humans. She now really enjoys life to the full and is very affectionate.

Currently, due to a drunken driver careering down our road at 60 mph (the limit is 20) and reducing one of the telegraph poles to matchwood, we are surviving on our mobile phone data, until the fibre is replaced and the pole, of course. I'll then upload some pictures of our mob.

But never give up on being affectionate to your ducks, they will come over if you give them time and love. Oh, and treats. .

 

[Vicktoria Giuergia]

They don't hate you, ducks don't think like we do, they aren't resentful towards you or anything like that. Simply put, they're prey animals and their instincts kick in, we're big compared to them, and it can be scary for them when we walk over or try to catch them.
I've heard they go through a fearful stage. Personally I didn't experience this with my two, I spent a lot of time with them everyday and the worst that happened was the oldest began moving away from me if I tried to pick her up, and sometimes if I attempted to stroke her. She's back to herself now and will actually choose to be picked up.
But this was likely because I only had two, the more you have the more they'll bounce off of eachother's fears. If one freaks out, likely they all will.
How much time do you spend with them? The trick is to earn their trust, and while treats can help, the only real way to do that is to spend time around them. Just sit with them, close to their food source or a bowl of treats, and just let them hide, and panic, until eventually they calm. Talk to them in a soothing voice, and spend lots of time near them.
Hopefully as they calm with age, and as they get used to you near them, they'll be okay with you.

Good advice. Can't top that.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We have a mature female duck that lived outside for all of her 8 years. She was the last survivor of the flock having spent most of her time being the enforcer for the matriarch of the flock. When she died she was alone and out of work.

We'd got some more ducklings from our local breeder and started raising them. The bird flu arrived and we had to bring our older bird indoors for her own safety. We were concerned that she would never accept being indoors with the 'weird featherless ducks', and as for the ducklings...

Anyways she started running with them when they did their zoomies, whilst outside. When she got indoors she took on the matriarchal role as she had been taught by her predecessor.

Since then she has settled in well and much prefers indoor life, wandering round and receiving cuddles from her weird humans. She now really enjoys life to the full and is very affectionate.

Currently, due to a drunken driver careering down our road at 60 mph (the limit is 20) and reducing one of the telegraph poles to matchwood, we are surviving on our mobile phone data, until the fibre is replaced and the pole, of course. I'll then upload some pictures of our mob.

But never give up on being affectionate to your ducks, they will come over if you give them time and love. Oh, and treats. .

Look forward to seeing your mob when your able.