We picked up 6 ducklings (we are pretty sure they are Mallards) last week at a local feed store, because they were giving them away for free. We are keeping them inside in a rubbermaid container, and they are pretty happy, but we wanted to expose them to the outside so a few nice friends gave us 2 small 4x4 chicken runs/tractors.
We don't know how old they are for certain, we are assuming they are 2-3 weeks old.
My main problem is the ducklings are (obviously) still scared of me, so today, it was very hard to get them out of the chicken tractor because we are having to lift it up and hurry and catch a couple.
Are they always going to be so scared of me because it is very hard to get them in/out of this little cage (we are thinking of making a door tomorrow). This is only temporary as we plan on putting them in our fenced in pond with a small duck coop in a shed.
My question... Is there anyway to make this task of letting them in/out any easier? And, will they always be so scared of me? Would be a lot easier if they liked me a bit!
Any other tips and advice are welcome as we are first time duck owners!
We don't know how old they are for certain, we are assuming they are 2-3 weeks old.
My main problem is the ducklings are (obviously) still scared of me, so today, it was very hard to get them out of the chicken tractor because we are having to lift it up and hurry and catch a couple.
Are they always going to be so scared of me because it is very hard to get them in/out of this little cage (we are thinking of making a door tomorrow). This is only temporary as we plan on putting them in our fenced in pond with a small duck coop in a shed.
My question... Is there anyway to make this task of letting them in/out any easier? And, will they always be so scared of me? Would be a lot easier if they liked me a bit!
Any other tips and advice are welcome as we are first time duck owners!