my ducks dont like me

[raymondjames]

hi. so i just got three ducklings mail order and now they're about 1.5 weeks old. will they ever like me? i feed them by hand, i hold them and pet them and do all the things a lot of people to do, and i hope they'll grow up and respond by name and follow me around. how did you socialize your ducks?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Totally normal, ducklings go through a OMG you are gonna kill me phase. Some ducks never want to be held and won't follow you everywhere, some will. Keep spending time with them as they become older they will settle down some. It does also depend on breed of duck, some breeds are nervous by nature.

 

[mixitup]

Definitely give it some time. And I agree that some breeds are simply more nervous than others. Also some 'lines' are more standoffish than others.

 

[Nicole01]

Keep holding them daily. It won't be long before they like you. Depending on breed, ducks don't take too long to trust. You've had them for a very short time. Try not to make sudden movements around them. They will get use to you in time. Some breeds are more leery of humans then others, just like chickens. Have fun. I love ducks too!

 

[Oregon Blues]

Ducks don't like to be picked up. If you persist, eventually, they will resign themselves to it.

But in the meantime, they will try to escape from you so you can't pick them up.

 

[Amiga]

I did not pick mine up very much, but I did sit next to or inside the brooder (big brooder!), and spent inordinate amounts of time with them, just sitting, singing to them, giving them treats. Some would sit on my legs, or right up against me.

They went through the "you are an axe murderer" stage, but I continued to be as near to them as they could stand.

Fast forward to young adult duck hood, I have about five or six that will let me pet them, everyone except Elf will eat from my hand, and they follow me around (though they can get distracted).

 

[Kmoreau]

My male pekin loves me. He lets me hold him, diaper him, carry him around, play with him. He will follow me around and nuzzle up against me if I am not paying attention to him. If I ignore him he will nibble on my toes to get me to pet him or feed him. He was four weeks old when I rescued him. He didnt live inside very long but he was a huge cuddle bug.

My female pekin, will only come up to me for food. Once I have food or have given her food, she will let me pet her or hold her. I got her when she was a week old. She lived inside until she was 3 weeks, then out she went. My male and her are only 2 months apart.

My baby black swedish wants nothing to do with me. She is truly terrified. i even babied her. She lived in my living room in a dog crate for about 4 weeks before slowly being integrated with the other ducks outside. She was only 3 days old when I got her.

I think male ducks tend to be a little more social and friendly then the females. I have tried everything to get the duckling to love me, and want my attention but she just doesnt. She runs up to me when the other ducks have been given dinner so she can get her bit of food, but she will get no closer then 2 feet from me.

 

[Finny]

I think your ducks may not want to follow you because you are not a duck. i suggest maybe ripping out some of their feathers and gluing them to your face. ducks are known to follow someone that looks like them also try quacking alot. replace english with quacking its much more efficient and the ducks love it believe me i see ducks on lakes all the time how do you think i am able to touch them with my beak. 

Surely you were kidding about ripping out their feathers and glueing them onto your face...?