I have no idea what I am doing

[GiggleOinkQuack]

Stopppp

Soo presh! Jealous because when my girls(two 9wk old Cayugas) were itty like this they loved on me too! Now that they're teenagers..not lovey anymore, just follow me and yell for me when I'm out of sight hahahaha! My friend has just one duck, and she's super affectionate still, when they have a buddy they tend to not snuggle anymore..boo! Enjoy Lucky! Keep the pics/videos coming!

 

[GiggleOinkQuack]

If you take him out and try to walk away from him, he will run so fast to follow! It's amazing. And please let him swim again. I know it scares you when he dives. I don't think you can get a sense of their drive to follow the parent indoors.

Yes!! Please do this! IT IS HILARIOUS! We have a blast STILL doing this, Buttercup and Daisy just add very loud quacks/honks to the mix while chasing after any of us!

 

[Debs Flock]

Sorry, brief interruption to your regularly scheduled banter...

Please go to this thread and post if you're interested in a 2018 "Other Poultry" calendar.
Thanks! Please share with others!!

There are about 20 members who have confirmed. We need at least 50 to make the effort worthwhile. Last chance...please respond by June 10th.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/other-poultry-calendar-for-2018-anyone.1161866/

 

[Steven Mazzo]

Ok I need some advice. I've completely lost all patience and all I've done is yell tonight. Im sure this is all my fault and probably gave him too much freedom but he is unbearable when he is put back in his cage. Even worse is the coop if we close him in the run and try to leave him he jumps so high and hits the bottom of the coop and ends up on his back and has a hard time turning over. I don't know what to do any more. I'm terrified to leave him in the coop for fear he will hurt himself and He drives us crazy in his little cage. The only thing that works is out and about which doesn't work for us every moment we are home. Advice?

 

[biophiliac]

Ok I need some advice. I've completely lost all patience and all I've done is yell tonight. Im sure this is all my fault and probably gave him too much freedom but he is unbearable when he is put back in his cage. Even worse is the coop if we close him in the run and try to leave him he jumps so high and hits the bottom of the coop and ends up on his back and has a hard time turning over. I don't know what to do any more. I'm terrified to leave him in the coop for fear he will hurt himself and He drives us crazy in his little cage. The only thing that works is out and about which doesn't work for us every moment we are home. Advice?

Don't know if it would help to give him a mirror along with his stuffed duck. His behavior is normal and nothing you did caused it except that you became his mom and ducklings do not want their mom to leave them alone at all until they are a certain age, I'm not sure how old. Hopefully the duck people will have some more practical advice for you.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

sorry it's hard with a little one especially if they have no one to play with

Does he have a snuggle friend and a mirror? Maybe a picture of you and Michael?

 

[biophiliac]

Ok I need some advice. I've completely lost all patience and all I've done is yell tonight. Im sure this is all my fault and probably gave him too much freedom but he is unbearable when he is put back in his cage. Even worse is the coop if we close him in the run and try to leave him he jumps so high and hits the bottom of the coop and ends up on his back and has a hard time turning over. I don't know what to do any more. I'm terrified to leave him in the coop for fear he will hurt himself and He drives us crazy in his little cage. The only thing that works is out and about which doesn't work for us every moment we are home. Advice?

I'm guessing you don't have the duck diapers yet?

 

[biophiliac]

Ducklings seem to focus on feet, do you have an old pair of shoes you could sacrifice for him to snuggle with in your absence, don't know if that would console him. If you were to let him swim enough he would sleep more The main thing to keep in mind is to keep him somewhere that if he jumps in panic he will not be able to hit his head on anything hard that can injure him. This is also a concern with quails and pheasants, etc.

Added: Maybe he would like to nest in your sweat shirt that he knows. The more exercise he gets the more peace you will have.

 

[biophiliac]

While he is small I would not try to leave him outside alone in his coop/run. @WVduckchick what do you think?
@Miss Lydia

 

[biophiliac]

And my final thought of the day for you:
Raising a lone duckling is quite a responsibility and there is certainly no shame in acknowledging that it is more than you can deal with if that turns out to be the case.