Imprinted babies - I think it's happened, what next?

[Andrea PNW]

Hi duck fam - question/gut check for y'all....

Context: So I got my 2 day-old cayuga baby bats a week and a half ago and considering they start screaming the minute I'm not in their eyesight - I assume this means they've imprinted on me? They want to be held always, they sprint to follow me wherever I go if I put them down and all they want to do is be under my hair right up under my chin.

They yell so much when they can't see me that I bring their brooder (a 50 gal storage tote) in next to my bed at night because their crying is upsetting. In the morning if I'm not visible to them in my bed I have to scooch my arm over on my bed for them to see it just to quiet them down.

Question 1: is this basically what it means to be imprinted on by a duck?

Question 2: does this chill out at some point? Like maybe in a month when they are all pissy when feathers start happening?

And if this is what imprinting really looks like - it's just as much a burden as it is a delight. So everyone should be careful what they wish for.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They will eventually get over you and be more bonded to each other. Right now you are their mama. It's fun and sweet for a while isn't it.

I so enjoy while they are tiny and love to be with me, then teen stage happens but by then it's okay and empty nest doesn't last long. Enjoy them.

 

[SolarDuck]

My girl Penguin is my only duck imprinted on me, she is a year old now and she still just pretty much wants to be with me as much as possible. She loves her duck sisters but still perfers to spend time with me and runs up happily every time I go outside. She can be a bit complicated when she goes broody, but 90% of the time she is a total sweetheart.

 

[EmmaGRS]

Hi duck fam - question/gut check for y'all....

Context: So I got my 2 day-old cayuga baby bats a week and a half ago and considering they start screaming the minute I'm not in their eyesight - I assume this means they've imprinted on me? They want to be held always, they sprint to follow me wherever I go if I put them down and all they want to do is be under my hair right up under my chin.

They yell so much when they can't see me that I bring their brooder (a 50 gal storage tote) in next to my bed at night because their crying is upsetting. In the morning if I'm not visible to them in my bed I have to scooch my arm over on my bed for them to see it just to quiet them down.

Question 1: is this basically what it means to be imprinted on by a duck?

Question 2: does this chill out at some point? Like maybe in a month when they are all pissy when feathers start happening?

And if this is what imprinting really looks like - it's just as much a burden as it is a delight. So everyone should be careful what they wish for.

 

[Pollo Blanco]

Any time we bring a duck from the first or second wave, they quack a lot when we leave the room.

Third wave, not so much.

All the ducks prefer the company of other ducks.