I want my ducks to like me!

[eminator]

Hi-

Is there a secret to raising ducklings so that they like you and don't fear you? It seems like my Pekins (just hatched!) are terrified of me. Tips, pointers, helpful hints, etc. appreciated. If you have anything that applies to chicks, I welcome those suggestions as well.

Thanks!

 

[19Dawn76]

I'm trying to get rid of some ducks right now cause they are so messy and no matter what I do they act like i'm going to eat them alive. I had some ducks a few years back and they weren' t scared of us at all. I really enjoyed those ducks. these that I have now just get on my nerves. Maybe the diff is that my other ones I got as week olds and these were in a crowded wire cage until I got them at 6 weeks old. Who knows

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I'd like to know too. My young Khakis flee at the sight of me, the older ones don't run away as fast, but they don't run towards us either. We also have 2 young Pekins, which I've heard make good pets. Though we handled them a lot when they were little, now that they spend much of their day in their pen they too run away as we approach.

Are there food treats/bribes to give ducks to better endear yourself to them?

 

[rlhbond]

Live or freeze dried meal worms (not too many) will have them eating out of your hand.

 

[headred]

Mine will stay within 3 feet of us, but then run away. I find food helps tremendously. They will eat from my hand, but they have to decide to come to me. Keep giving good treats......worms are fabulous and lettuces are a for sure thing.

 

[ChaosTheory]

I've read that with campbells it's a bigger issue than most other ducks, but, are you raising them with a lot of other ducks? They're more apt to be people friendly/cuddly if they're raised with only a few other ducks (they don't have a duck 'click' to fit into).

 

[Wifezilla]

My 3 welsh harlequin girls climb all over me when I take them out to play in the grass. My khaki/buff mutt lets me rub her chest. My rouen drake eats out of my hand, but my runner never lets me get closer than 3 feet to her. The two khaki's I had were the same way. My buff would also eat out of my hand but didn't like to be touched.

What's the big difference? Breed and early handling. I hatched out my buff/khaki mutt. She got used to my voice before she even hatched. Plus buffs are pretty sociable and gregarious in general, and she seems to have more buff in her personality-wise. I handled her daily. She never liked being picked up, but she sure loved to be talked to. Still does. She responds VERY well to treats. That girl will do anything for a worm...LOL. She trusts me and knows I am the source of many yummys. Plus I think she is a little insane. Somehow this helps our relationship.

She is definitely a "pet duck".

The runner and the khaki's I had were purchased as adults. They were flock raised and not used to close contact with people. I didn't expect them to be very tame...and they weren't. Over time Chrissy (the runner) in warming up, but she still is afraid of her own shadow in general. Very typical runner behavior.

My rouen I got at about 3 days old. He became very bonded to my first khaki mutt (poor thing died at only a month). He did not bond to me much, but I did buy him to keep JJ company. He is friendly, will eat out of my hand, but he is a duck duck, not so much a people duck. Still he likes it when you talk to him and will show off (puffs out chest...flaps wings and runs around...too funny!), will eat treats from my hand, but if he thinks there might be a even a small possibility you will pick him up, he is off like a flash.

The buff I had ate out of my hand even though she was flock raised. I think she was handled more than the other ducks in the flock because she was actually shown for 4-h. She was friendly even though she was loud and a tad obnoxious.

The Welsh Harlequin girls were purchased as ducklings from a hatchery. A total of six were delivered to psicorps by the time there were 2 days old and he gave me my three the next day. These girls all think I am mom and get upset when they can't see me. They fuss when you pick them up, but calm down when they are being held. They eat treats from my hand as well as climb IN my hand and check between my fingers in case they missed something. When I lay in the grass with them, they treat me like a jungle gym and climb all over me. They love it when I talk to them don't mind being touched. These little princesses are very spoiled

They are so friendly it is kind of hard not to spoil them. I am sure they will be much like my khaki mutt Uno. Since I didn't hatch these out, the fact that they are as friendly (if not more so) than Uno kind of tells me it is the breed.

 

[goosedragon]

This thread reminds me of the old joke "you were so ugly that your Mama had to tie a pork chop around your neck to get the dog to play with you" Young ducks know that you aren't their mama so of course they are afraid of you. Bribe them with treats and let them get to know that you are a friend not a threat, usually with time they will come around.

 

[ducklover15]

I raised a rouen hen by herself and she loved me, but I'm pretty it was because she was never around anyone or anything else but me. She use to sit on my lap and rub her beak all over me. When I introduced her to another duck she because a little skittish of me because the other duck was, but she would still come to me when called and she'd let me pet her.

When she passed away I got two mallard hens. The older one is very skittish of me but the younger one seemed to like me a little more.

I'd say the secret is to raise them in the smallest number possible and the youngest age possible and try to spend as much time as you can with them. Good luck! =]

 

[Goat_Walker]

Just spend alot of time with them. Also, I find that they become friendlier if you spend time with them individually. When they are with a group they tend to want to stay with the group rather than warm up to you.