is my bired strested

[katiebugmae]

This may be a weird question. is it normal that every time I hold my Cayuga it use the restroom?I'm thing it is stressed out or scared.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

This may be a weird question. is it normal that every time I hold my Cayuga it use the restroom?I'm thing it is stressed out or scared.

Yes, totally normal. You're right in what you're thinking. Ducks have very little control over that. Some people say they have no control, but I simply don't believe that. I have had many of my own ducks use the bathroom right away if they're afraid when they're picked up, and I have ducks that seem to be able to hold off on using the bathroom for at least a little while as long as they're not scared.

Have you ever heard someone say something like, "That scared the pee out of me"? It's kind of the same thing. You do something to frighten them, then they do that.

 

[katiebugmae]

Yeah I'm just hoping hes not geting stressed

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Yeah I'm just hoping hes not geting stressed

He is getting stressed. He's getting very stressed. Most ducks don't enjoy being picked up, though some learn to tolerate it. Even if you have a duck that doesn't mind sitting in your lap if it's their choice, like some of mine do, they usually don't like being constrained. In other words, they usually like to know they can go about their way when they choose to, and they can't do that if you're holding them down. It scares them and will make them more afraid of you because they're afraid you'll do it again if they get near you.

It will work out much better for both of you if you just allow him to learn to eat from your hand and be near you, and if you stop trying to pick him up for now. Allow him to learn to trust you, and try not to be upset if he never gets to the point that he likes being held. Just having them close is great fun!

 

[katiebugmae]

Thanks for the info

 

[Amykins]

I dunno, Bean likes being held like an ice cream cone for some bizarre reason. But I've never exactly had "normal" pets.

 

[jducour]

I dunno, Bean likes being held like an ice cream cone for some bizarre reason. But I've never exactly had "normal" pets.

Like an ice cream cone? I'm trying to picture it... and I can't! My Weirdo Runner likes to be held with both of my hands wrapped around his body, with his beak in my face. But, he is not a normal duck

 

[Amykins]

Like an ice cream cone? I'm trying to picture it... and I can't! My Weirdo Runner likes to be held with both of my hands wrapped around his body, with his beak in my face. But, he is not a normal duck

Like this!




Hehe now she's a bit big...she used to love face snuggles too, but now she's scared of hands AND faces. :/ I hope she outgrows that, I miss my snuggleduckie!

 

[jducour]

Like this!




Hehe now she's a bit big...she used to love face snuggles too, but now she's scared of hands AND faces. :/ I hope she outgrows that, I miss my snuggleduckie!

Haha, I would call that a burrito! When our runner was that small, I would hold him like that in one hand and tell him to be a dead duck - he would lay still with his head to one side, on my open palm! He humors me, he knows I am weird. He will still do it for me now, but he does it on the grass, he's too big!