Inexperienced duck keeper checking in with experienced duck keepers

[duckdog]

Hello, I'm brand new to keeping any poultry. I have 5 female Pekins just under 2 weeks old. Since I have moved them to a much larger space I have not been able to pick any of them up unless I chase it down, which I don't think I should do. The first day I had them didn't go so well. One of them kept jumping out of their cage and I had to move them all to a new one. In doing so I dropped 2 (I've since learned the proper way to hold them). Fortunately none of them are showing injuries. But they do not want to have any part of me. Sometimes, when I am in their room and moving very slowly they will venture to their replenished water/food before I have moved safely away, but they are having no part of me moving closer. Oddly they are not too afraid of the dog, and the more adventurous ducks are moving closer and closer to the cage wall when the dog comes into the room with me. It would be ideal for them to bond with me, but if I can at least desensitize them enough to care for them I will be happy. Do I plow ahead and start handling them some, despite their protests? Do I slowly do it? I have begun to keep their room door open for a couple hours a day, but after a while the dog's curiosity gets the best of her and she will bark some, in turn I will shut the door to prevent from her scaring them too much.

 

[Corbdee]

I know that a lot of times when ordering ducklings from hatcheries they are a lot less friendly because you were not the first person to make an imprint on them, as thats what happened with mine, but eventually after routine and repetition they will start to realize that you are not the bad person in their lives, you're the good person. I never chase my ducks or ducklings but I will take care of them if need be. They start to see me in a good light

 

[nuthatched]

Don't chase them down or sweep them up.
Sit down and let them come to you, they're prey animals, anything coming after them is a threat.

 

[Ridgeback825]

Yes, it's a slow process to gain their trust and we have noticed a huge difference in home hatched birds when it comes to friendliness. The only thing to make our girl come running to us is black soldier flies. She absolutely loves them and knows that she only gets them from our hand, so she suffers through it. It just takes time and any chasing will set you back drastically. We do hold her and make her deal with us but it has not made much of a difference. She was attacked by a bobcat on Tuesday and is in a hospital crate in the garage with meds given twice a day and wound cleaning, so we will see how she tolerates us if she survives. I'm hoping it's a bonding opportunity like we've had with our sick chicke s in the past but ducks are a bit more difficult than chickens. Best of luck to you and the best advice I can give is patience.

 

[Corbdee]

Food wise, if you want them to bond with you, I have one word for you. Peas. Ducks love peas. Same with watermelon, at least with my ducks. But yes, the more fruits, veggies and healthy duck-safe treats you introduce to them at a young age, the more they'll like you as adults as well when you give these to them.

 

[duckdog]

Food wise, if you want them to bond with you, I have one word for you. Peas. Ducks love peas. Same with watermelon, at least with my ducks. But yes, the more fruits, veggies and healthy duck-safe treats you introduce to them at a young age, the more they'll like you as adults as well when you give these to them.

Thank you

 

[duckdog]

Yes, it's a slow process to gain their trust and we have noticed a huge difference in home hatched birds when it comes to friendliness. The only thing to make our girl come running to us is black soldier flies. She absolutely loves them and knows that she only gets them from our hand, so she suffers through it. It just takes time and any chasing will set you back drastically. We do hold her and make her deal with us but it has not made much of a difference. She was attacked by a bobcat on Tuesday and is in a hospital crate in the garage with meds given twice a day and wound cleaning, so we will see how she tolerates us if she survives. I'm hoping it's a bonding opportunity like we've had with our sick chicke s in the past but ducks are a bit more difficult than chickens. Best of luck to you and the best advice I can give is patience.

Thank you

 

[duckdog]

I know that a lot of times when ordering ducklings from hatcheries they are a lot less friendly because you were not the first person to make an imprint on them, as thats what happened with mine, but eventually after routine and repetition they will start to realize that you are not the bad person in their lives, you're the good person. I never chase my ducks or ducklings but I will take care of them if need be. They start to see me in a good light

Thank you

 

[duckdog]

Don't chase them down or sweep them up.
Sit down and let them come to you, they're prey animals, anything coming after them is a threat.

thank you

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

Hang out with them... In a non intrusive way. Such as sitting on their level while reading or scrolling your phone so they see you and can observe you. If you are distracted you aren't as scary and they are curious. The curiousity will win out... They will come see what you are up to.

The easiest for me is to keep them in the "main" room of the house so they see me doing everything from dishes to watching tv and playing with the dog. I am then often cleaning their space (because I see the little poo as it arrives) and they get used to me being in their space but not doing anything that hurts or makes contact with them.

Don't grab at them, but clean the space they are in... They will get tired of being scared of you and become curious.

You are after all the human who bring fresh water and food! They will come running to nibble at you to see what you are all about

Congratulations by the way... They will be great sources of love and anecdotes very soon.