PaulX
Songster
- Nov 15, 2018
- 309
- 818
- 171
I've never experienced the 'axe murderer stage' often talked about here.
It seems to me what matters is whether they're imprinted or not.
A few days old is already too late for imprint. More precisely, the fear response has already developed too strongly. It may be possible to imprint as a few people claimed to have done, but it'll be difficult for sure.
The oldest I've found that my ducklings haven't developed fear is 2 days old.
There're papers that if ducklings were reared in 'sensory deprivation' conditions this period will be extended, but this condition doesn't happen outside of the lab or the shipping box.
My first ducklings, I bought when they're already a few days old or more. They never imprinted. They never followed. They were terrified of me from day 1. I spent 6 hours a day just sitting with them. They still never tamed.
My second batch of ducklings, pekins, and my third batch of ducklings, runners, I hatched them myself. They imprinted. Everything after that was easy and much more pleasurable. I never had to chase them when I took them for a walk. I was able to easily grab to put them back in the brooder, they might not like being picked up and half-heartedly walked away, but they walked right back to my side if I walked backwards even a little. If they were my first ducklings I'd have had to chase to put them back, or lock them in the brooder all day.
Most notably, it seems they're also more ready to bond with humans. I gave 4/6 of my pekins away at 4 weeks. I heard later they bonded with their new keeper, following and nibbling on him. 3/4 of those used to demand cuddles with me. They were the most tame and friendly of the bunch. Everyone said they never seen ducks that tame. (they're not kept for pets around here, only as livestock, 98% of the time.)
It seems to me what matters is whether they're imprinted or not.
A few days old is already too late for imprint. More precisely, the fear response has already developed too strongly. It may be possible to imprint as a few people claimed to have done, but it'll be difficult for sure.
The oldest I've found that my ducklings haven't developed fear is 2 days old.
There're papers that if ducklings were reared in 'sensory deprivation' conditions this period will be extended, but this condition doesn't happen outside of the lab or the shipping box.
My first ducklings, I bought when they're already a few days old or more. They never imprinted. They never followed. They were terrified of me from day 1. I spent 6 hours a day just sitting with them. They still never tamed.
My second batch of ducklings, pekins, and my third batch of ducklings, runners, I hatched them myself. They imprinted. Everything after that was easy and much more pleasurable. I never had to chase them when I took them for a walk. I was able to easily grab to put them back in the brooder, they might not like being picked up and half-heartedly walked away, but they walked right back to my side if I walked backwards even a little. If they were my first ducklings I'd have had to chase to put them back, or lock them in the brooder all day.
Most notably, it seems they're also more ready to bond with humans. I gave 4/6 of my pekins away at 4 weeks. I heard later they bonded with their new keeper, following and nibbling on him. 3/4 of those used to demand cuddles with me. They were the most tame and friendly of the bunch. Everyone said they never seen ducks that tame. (they're not kept for pets around here, only as livestock, 98% of the time.)
