Indoor Duck Questions...

[jemjdragon]

The thing with drakes is that they tend to get more aggressive towards mating season because of all the hormones. Since domestic ducks have been bred to have longer mating seasons, drakes are usually very nippy and bite-y for most of the year. Having two female ducks should be fine. I have read you can train ducks not to bite or nip skin but you have to start while they are around 3-4 weeks old. You basically tap them on the beak with a finger and say "No Skin" when they bite you. I don't remember where I read that but it was when I was researching about keeping ducks. But please correct me if I am wrong about anything.

My female pekin is very sweet and loves pets. She does nibble on hands gently sometimes and I think this is what duckdad describes as a handshake. She has only bitten me twice really hard but that was because I put on her diaper too tight so she decided to tell me by giving me a bruise on my arm. I was still figuring out to put on her diaper then so I feel I deserved it.

My duck can be loud. She has times when she quack for hours at the top of her lungs. But other times she has this kind of quiet peeping/quack sound. She likes to sit on the couch and chat with me.

 

[HappyPlace]

My favorite thing about this forum is the people who take time to talk about their own experiences.

It seems like if I wanted a male duck, it would be best to just get him a mate and leave them outside, while a female would be okay indoors but wouldn't know how to use her "indoor voice"... Since I would love an indoor duck, I guess I'll have to get two females and play it by ear (

) as to whether or not I can take the noise level.

I thought I read that ducks start "talking" about the same time as chickens, right? About 3 months? Will it take that long to see just how loud a female can be?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Have you decided on a breed yet? you probably siad but I didn't take time to go back and read it all.

I have Muscovies and the girls can make noises but it's usually just a couple times a day and it's not really quacking noises they make but they do get excited once in a while.

 

[duckdad]

Quote:
Ducks have definate social behaviors that you can observe and learn their habits and normal behaviors..
They also have what I'd call a "duck-hug" where they will (male & female) will reach over your hand instead of mouthing or nibbles and hang their beak on your hand or even up on your arm and gently try to pull back towards their body. If you follow they will hold their beak on your hand until they bring your hand to their neck/breast area. Not hard or aggressively, just a gentle tug as if to put their arm around you...since they don't have hands or arms, they will use their beak like a hand. Very creative birds....they find a way to get things done and minic some familiar behaviors.

I've used that "NO-Biting" (no-skin) technique with some success. Buddy ( drake) will sneak in a good nip every once in a while (playing rough)and if he gets a good mouthful I'll say loudly...NO BITING and now he will stop. Used to be he'd continue regardless of what was said or done. Used to be picking him up was taking a heck of a chance because he used to go for the throat and bite the heck out of some tender skin on the neck...ear-lobes...even bit my nose once. Got a chunk of my lower lip one time...looked like somebody smacked me pretty good. I let people believe whatever they wanted to.....Not about to tell everybody that a duck nearly bit my lip off...
But, after he learned that this hurt and got him scolded, he won;t do that anymore. He acts as if he has to remind himself not to bite at my neck when I pick him up because he will reach toward me like he was about to bite, but now he just rubs with his beak and sticks his head on my shoulder after his greeting...

One thing I learned was the beak holding as a means of control and teaching the bird...if suddenly he's no longer dominate or unable to dominate....it confuses the boy and he steps back to re-evaluate the situation. At that point it turns into a game if I let it. Used to be cause for playtime to end. I noticed that IF I ended the fun, it was likely to be picked up where we left off...with more biting and nipping next time. If I interrupted his aggression yet rewarded him with affection, he would soften his approach and play nice. Now when holding Buddy, he sticks his head over my shoulder and rubs against my neck. Sometimes thats to get reasdy to climb but I'll tell him "no climbing...not now"....sometimes he relaxes and sometimes he ignores me and climbs up anyway....its HIS perch after all. One thing is for sure...never pick up a duck unless you are wearing a sleeved shirt...duck toe-nails can rip you up pretty good. I've made that mistake wearing a tank-top...bad bad idea! Not the birds fault...its the dmb human thats picking up an animal with toes similar to 16p nails...

Two things important to a duck when interacting with their human. Who is dominant and then the attention/affection. If they (especially a drake) can't beat you up, the next best thing is to cuddle or play....some form of physical contact on their terms. Most of the time if I try to hold Buddy, he's gonna climb and struggle until he gets on my shoulder...left side prefered but the right will do if thats all he can get to...then he'll stretch and start arranging his posture to get himself steadied on my shoulder so he can lean far forward and stick his head in my pocket...Its funny to see him looking for a pocket on the right side...he DOES know the difference. He'll look all around and he will change shoulders if I let him (let him? like I got a choice) so he can get to his pocket. Once comfortable he won't get down until he's ready.

Sometimes IF, and ONLY IF I've rubbed his spolied neck long enough he will go ahead and fly off and back into his pen if I ask him to do so, and give him the signal to fly off.. Lately he's been pretty hooked on getting his beak scratched. Thats like getting an itch scratched to you or me. Must be like heaven 'cause he can sit there and hang his head down all day while I scratch his nose... If I stop too soon I get the one soft raspy male quack...my hint to start scratching again. Ever had a big duck fall asleep when you were scratching his head or rubbing his neck? Seeing them relax and trust you as they close their eyes is pretty darn cool !

Squeek is much easier...she likes to be held close for about 2 minutes where she'll lay her head against my chest while I massage her neck, then she'll do her "squeeking noise2 to 3 times.... thats the signal that she wants to get down. I can hold her longer but she'll be restless and start to squirm. She's easy. Squeek is more realistic about the time spent getting the spa treatment....but only if both feet are on something solid...she can stand in the palm of my hand and be happy IF she can get both feet in and have that solid footing. If not, she'll wiggle and jump off first chance she gets.

When reaching to them on the ground, they both instinctively squawk (warning chatter) and back up...then come forward to greet me as soon as they figure out who it is. If they are really playful they'll both start with the "hugs" trying to pull my hand in closer as if to say "hold me, I am happy to see you"...other times they will want to run & play...and circle my foot or even come up behind and tug at the back of my shoe or pant leg...If I hold one too long, the other starts nipping at my ankle. Gently, not the least bit aggresively. Just a little nip to say "hey, remember me"? They demand equal time when being held.....

Sorry for the length of this ! I'm facinated by duck behavior and their very distinct personalities. Much more interesting than many of the people that I meet these days...

BTW, for those still awake, I found a NEW system of "bedding" for the indoor AND outdoor pens...
Instead of towels on a tarp, I found a painters drop cloth that is rubber coated on one side so nothing soaks thru. It was only $7 for the 5' X 5' size. Canvas with rubber back. Liteweight and washable. Its being test driven as I write this. If it works and turns out to be a reasonable alternative to several towels, I'll get another so one can be in use while the other is being washed. I'll let you know how it works. ANything to help with the daily chore of doing the ducks laundry as I call it...

Thanks for reading...if you can;t tell, I really enjoy my birds !

 

[duckdad]

UPDATE

regarding the towels and tarps...

The rubber coated painters tarp is working VERY well....comes in a variety of sizes, one side canvas the other side rubber coated. Its thin, liteweight and durable. I shake them off in the grass, hose off the big stuff then throw it in the washer and hang dry. The ducks like it, not slippery on the canvas side, and easy to place and roll up.





I get some towels back.... (if I can get past where they've been)

 

[SmokinChick]

And some posters feel there are weirdos in the "Meat Bird" Section!

 

[HappyPlace]

Miss Lydia, I will be getting Cayugas (though not for a while). I have always admired the breed and reading about them on this forum (and others), I am even more enamored by them.

Duckdad, I LOVE your posts about your ducks. I love that you write so in-depth about them and really share your experiences. It really helps me (and others, I'm sure) understand just what I would be up against.

Please, if you feel like sharing more, I would GLADLY read it.

Also, thank you for the painters cloth idea. Hopefully others who have or are considering having indoor ducks (or whatever) see your post. Thank you, again.

 

[duckdad]

Quote:
You are welcome !

the reason that I do such detailed and lengthy post is that as I was growing up (and throughout life) learning various things....nobody ever went past the basics. They never got very far into "how" or "why".

I figured if I did'nt understand the how or why, I would never know if I were doing something right or wrong or if what I was doing could be done better. I'm one of those people that does'nt grasp the concept of good 'nuff. Not OCD by any stretch of the imagination..but I believe that knowledge is power and gives the individual the ability to do more and do it better.

Anyway, I'm glad that you've found some of the info useful. If I had known of a place to see some stuff like personal experiences AND expert opinion regarding many subjects, I'd have been wayyyy ahead and not have wasted so much cash and time. Neither of which I get back.....

Weirdo has to go to the store before the storm comes in tonite...

Enjoy your day !

 

[70%cocoa]

Glad that the painter's canvas is working well. Top idea!

Did you cut it to fit? Do you find that the sides fray in the wash? One option would be to hem the sides if you have a sewing machine.

 

[duckdad]

70%cocoa :

Glad that the painter's canvas is working well. Top idea!

Did you cut it to fit? Do you find that the sides fray in the wash? One option would be to hem the sides if you have a sewing machine.

Actually it comes in a variety of sizes, that happen to be almost exactly what my outside pen size is. The edge or the entire perimeter is sewn, a real bonus cause the birds would have a field day with tattered edges, and the rubber backing is solid across the whole thing. Rubber is on the underside with the sewn edges down.
The 5 X 5' was $7.98 and the 6 X 9 was $10.98.

One has been run thru the washer with no ill effects. Since poo tends to sit on top of the canvas now, I throw a towel in there just so the birds can walk on a towel and wipe thier feet before handling.....its not like they know to....
I have to chase them across the towel before I'm willing to grab a bird with "wet feet"...thats always a crappy feeling.

The upside to this experiment is that there is only one item to wash....easy to roll up and hose off, and fits in the washer once the big stuff has been rinsed off with the hose. Beats using 3 full size towels at a time and all the bleach it takes to get them clean.​