My ducks hate me.

[PatriciafromCO]

I find with mine that the breed made a difference, but mostly it came down to the individual. The friendliest one I had was a silver appleyard drake that had leg issues and I strongly believe he put up with me to begin with because it was easier than trying to run away. He became my buddy and followed me literally everywhere if he could. I sold him to a lady that had unrelated birds because I didn’t want sibling babies. Haha. My appleyard female is friendly, comes running when I go in their pen, but doesn’t like to be picked up. I had 2 Swedish as well and the one I kept is wary but nice, she prefers to be nearby but not to be touched. The other Swedish I had was insane and no matter what you did she acted like you were the devil incarnate; she actually bit and scratched and fought if you had to pick her up for any reason. She went to a hands off home where she’s in a large flock of free ranging birds. I kept the ones I liked the best and that were compatible with me, because I like to be hands on with my animals. These girls will come right over and eat out of my hand if I have treats which is enough for me. Lol.
And then, there’s my home hatched duckling that wants to be held constantly and follows me around like a puppy. And that one is a runner, so go figure.

Thanks for mentioning the silver applyyards, am expecting my first group of them in Aug..

 

[Trisseh]

Thanks for mentioning the silver applyyards, am expecting my first group of them in Aug..

I love my appleyards! Of course in the group I got, only one was a duck, and all the rest drakes. Then I was going to order more from a different hatchery this year, but with the pandemic they cancelled their hatching season.

 

[JDChickChat]

I have almost the same problem. But I've been sitting w/them and clicking w/ my tounge when they take the food from my hand hoping for the best. It's sad when people say there like puppy and they act more like battered animals! But I'll keep trying, You should to!

I know this thread is old, but my ducks absolutely HATE ME. I don’t believe for a second that they don’t know how to hate- because the second they see me, they’re gone. They want absolutely nothing to do with me and it’s getting to the point where I’m thinking of rehoming them to a more comfortable home- meaning maybe they’ll be happy with someone else cause they aren’t happy with me.

they used to follow me around when they were ducklings- and they sometimes eat out of my hand in the brooder (not always) but they flee if I try to pick them up in the brooder like mad men and forget about outside. Anyone want 2 4 week old Rowan ducklings?

 

[Callender Girl]

I had to add some replacement ducks in in the spring of 2019. The adults already ate out of my hand, and eventually all but one of the newbies did too. FINALLY, a couple of months ago, Sloane, the last hold out, figured out that the best treats are the ones I have in my hand. Now, she's the first one in line. Don't give up!!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I know this thread is old, but my ducks absolutely HATE ME. I don’t believe for a second that they don’t know how to hate- because the second they see me, they’re gone. They want absolutely nothing to do with me and it’s getting to the point where I’m thinking of rehoming them to a more comfortable home- meaning maybe they’ll be happy with someone else cause they aren’t happy with me.

they used to follow me around when they were ducklings- and they sometimes eat out of my hand in the brooder (not always) but they flee if I try to pick them up in the brooder like mad men and forget about outside. Anyone want 2 4 week old Rowan ducklings?

Most ducks once they get out if the little duckling age go through a very skittish phase. That's just ducks. I sit outside on a blanket, spread peas around me and just let my ducks come up and eat without trying to force physical touch. Its a great exercise that allows the ducks to trust you in their own time. A lot of people want to force the affection and the wonder why its not returned, but with ducks unless they are imprinted they have to trust you on their terms. My flock is comprised of ducks I hatched myself, ducks my husband got front tractor supply and ducks that were dropped off anywhere from 2 months of age to grown adults. I have used the blanket method with treats with great success. Now as soon as my ducks see me or hear my voice they all come running to me. If I sit on the ground they will come play with my shoes, one even tried to hop in my lap (use to be the most skittish of them all especially when she was a month old) and the rest will all come lay around me.

 

[HENS-and-MARES]

FOOD!!! Mine are around 6-7 weeks and as soon as I come in the run and sit down they come running!! I have 4 khaki campbells and they will climb on my lap and all over me at treat time. Any time other than treat time, I am the plague...lol!!! What I do love about them is if they have not seen me for most of the day they will follow me everywhere!!! My hubby calls me mommy duck

I have a bag of treats, and my khaki Campbell duck acts the same way! My drake will come close but doesn’t eat out of my hands.
The funniest thing is how a chicken gets stressed when you pick it up and likely won’t eat out of your hand, same with geese. My duck have a “ If I have to.... I guess I could.... GOBBLE UP THE TREATS LIKE A VACUUM!”

 

[Smiller1090]

My Muscovy momma is simply evil. I got her when she was a year old from a free ranging farm where she never had immediate human interaction. She is now 1 year and 6 months old and she still charges me and bites be every chance she gets. She is very broody, a good layer and a great momma so I just put up with it and leave her alone. She started “training” my ducklings to be like her but I almost have them broke of it and I’m noticing that the more I handle her babies the closer and calmer she is getting with me. Ducks just take extra work.

 

[JDChickChat]

Most ducks once they get out if the little duckling age go through a very skittish phase. That's just ducks. I sit outside on a blanket, spread peas around me and just let my ducks come up and eat without trying to force physical touch. Its a great exercise that allows the ducks to trust you in their own time. A lot of people want to force the affection and the wonder why its not returned, but with ducks unless they are imprinted they have to trust you on their terms. My flock is comprised of ducks I hatched myself, ducks my husband got front tractor supply and ducks that were dropped off anywhere from 2 months of age to grown adults. I have used the blanket method with treats with great success. Now as soon as my ducks see me or hear my voice they all come running to me. If I sit on the ground they will come play with my shoes, one even tried to hop in my lap (use to be the most skittish of them all especially when she was a month old) and the rest will all come lay around me.

now that they are not in the house anymore, unless I try to catch them, will just mill about the yard following the chickens and completely steer clear of me, so treats from here on out are pretty pointless. I don’t see this getting any better- I think they just need to live somewhere they feel safe. It breaks my heart that they are scared of me- maybe they won’t be scared of someone else.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

now that they are not in the house anymore, unless I try to catch them, will just mill about the yard following the chickens and completely steer clear of me, so treats from here on out are pretty pointless. I don’t see this getting any better- I think they just need to live somewhere they feel safe. It breaks my heart that they are scared of me- maybe they won’t be scared of someone else.

They won't come up close to you at first, but the point of the exercise is to gradually get them there. You may think it's you, but what you just described is exactly the stage that the majority of duck owners have to go through. That's just ducks. Mine at that stage I couldn't even get near and the only way I could herd them in at night was spending an hour trying to catch them. It takes patience. If you don't want to try that's fine, but your ducks are just acting like any other young duck that hasn't imprinted at that age.