My New Runners from Holderreads (pic)

[rainplace]

oh yeah, the first few nights I had to set up a makeshift corral to herd the newcomers into the duck house, but after that they went in with everyone else.

Beautiful runners!

 

[Sweetfolly]

Quote:
Oh, the poor dears!

Don't worry, they'll settle down. My first three ducks (two Campbells's and a McMurray's Jumbo Pekin) were scared to death when I got them. They'd been snatched off the farm they'd been free-ranging on, transported in cardboard boxes in the back of a pickup truck for two hours (through an ICE STORM, no less), and then shoved into a big wire dog crate in my garage because I'd procrastinated and the roof wasn't attached to the duck pen yet. The Pekin was the most skittish, and she was climbing all over the two Campbells whenever I walked by, and seeing as she weighs as much as three Campbells, I finally had to separate her from them. Then, she got depressed and stopped eating for two days until the pen was all done and they all got to go live outside, far away from me, with only occasional interruptions to bring them food and water. They were all less stressed. I waited to make friends with them until spring, when they were all settled in, and now they'll eat out of my hands and I can handle them without too much trouble when necessary.

I was going to order an adult White Hookbill pair from Holderread's a few weeks ago (I typed out the e-mail and everything), but I was worried about how skittish they'd be. Plus, I really like raising them up from ducklings.

Yours are GORGEOUS though. It's a good thing you live so far away, or I might be temped to come steal your new Buff girl!

 

[Willowbrook]

You have to understand, the Holderreads, by their own admission, will tell you that their ducks are basically only touched when they are put into the brooder after hatching and then into the packing box when they fill an order. Other than that, they receive very little human contact other than when they are fed.

I have several ducks from Holderreads, and while they are gorgeous birds, they have NEVER changed their skittish behavior in comparison to ducks that I have raised myself.

 

[CityChicker]

I concur with what has been said already. If you want them to be "pets" and be extremely friendly, I would avoid buying them as adults from a large farm, including from Holderread's. In my opinion, their adults birds are more for breeding stock (although, I do have several I got from them as adults that are quite calm and friendly). Even the more friendly ones, are not as nice as they would be if raised from ducklings to adults in smaller numbers. What you can do though is buy breeding pairs in the Fall, especially if it something hard to come by, and keep some of their ducklings the following year when they breed.

 

[Chickensaremylife]

We're getting 6 runner ducklings this spring, along with 2 pilgrim geese.

 

[SunshineSteedFarm]

Very pretty

 

[Wifezilla]

Birds that are flocked raised and purchased as adults are not usually going to be very friendly. I got lucky with my Harlequins though. CityChicker bought them as ducklings and even though they were flock ducks, after a couple of weeks they warmed right up. Eat out of hand and everything. The runner I got as an adult and have had for a year still acts like I am going to murder her every time I get too close.

Chrissy is a little special though, so I don't hold that against her

 

[chickensioux]

Aaaaawwwwww, I am so jealous!!!! They are gorgeous!!!!!! Enjoy!!!!!

 

[sandspoultry]

When we got our pair from Holderreads they were the same way. They are very pretty but more stand offish then the rest of the flock. It has been several months now and they fit right in with the rest of the flock.
Here is a picture of the pair.

And here is one of the rest of the flock

Now they are all one big happy family.
Sharon

 

[tia]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I feel better now. Maybe my girls will bring them around eventually.