New duckling.

[CrazyFowlFreak]

hi!
I bought a black east indies duckling from Eggbid and had her shipped. SHe arrived early Monday morning. She was nervous and scared and I expected that, but I thought she'd be over it by now? She runs to the corner of the brooder and opens her bill at me like she wants to bite me. If I'm holding her now, she'll bite me. She gave me a fat lip last night!

How can I make her like me or any of us? Is there a special treat I don't know about?

I'm a total newb with ducks, btw!

 

[Calebs Acre]

I hatched a Black East Indies duck last year. It was the VERY FIRST egg I ever hatched. I hugged that duck and it was a sole baby. It was never really very friendly or loving.

His mother was the same way, but I had hoped that would be because she was an adult when I got her. That's been my only experience with the Black East Indies. I ended up selling them both. She was very noisy.

I wish I could offer you more encouragement. Perhaps there are people here with more expanded experience who can give you more information.

 

[Cetawin]

Just time...feed it by hand small pieces of lettuce, spinach or a frozen pea thawed. Be calm and slow moving around the baby and speak to it often. Make sure it can see you most of the time.

Are you getting it a duckie friend? They really need duckie companionship too.

 

[CityChicker]

I am sorry to give you disappointing information, but BEI have been the least friendly breed of duck I have ever kept (hence they are not in my flock anymore). I *never* had one that tolerated even a small amount of handling even as day olds. Many of mine were downright terrified by people.

Of course, YMMV. Some lines may be better temperament wise than others. I don't know. All of mine were completely frantic and yes, some of the ducklings would even bite.

 

[DuckLady]

She does like you. She bites you because she doesn't have lips to kiss you with.

Seriously, you have to bribe ducks and train them that you are not going to hurt them.
They are all fraidy ducks and it takes time to bribe them into submission.

 

[CityChicker]

I firmly believe that different breeds have different personalities. Any individual within a breed may be more friendly than typical for that breed or less friendly. Some breeds are naturally more flighty. Some are naturally more mellow. Like I said previously, certain lines may differ as well. I try to breed from birds with good temperaments because I think it is somewhat inheritable.

All that said, I have never owned a BEI that I liked the personality of. I am sure nice ones exist, but every single one of mine has been flighty and terrified of people even as babies. When raised with other ducklings, their behavioral differences really become obvious. I raised my initial stock of BEI (from Holderread's) in a group of several other breeds. While the Mini Appleyards (for example, one of the friendliest breeds I have ever kept) were crawling all over us for attention, the BEI were scrambling over the top of each other terrified in the corner. YMMV. Perhaps the line I had are not as friendly. Who knows. Their beauty makes up for the personality, IMO.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Yes well I am bribing away down here...I get 11 of them nibbling on my fingers looking for spinach or peas. hahahahaha