Pekin Duck Club!

[tracyjg]

If ducks our scidish or afraid I would approach quietly and gentley. Kids can be a little bouncy and loud by nature. Along with other pets. But go near them quietly and gently. Give treats calmly. Get down to there level spend time outside for a few mins. If not to cold or hot. Or just in the living room will do.

 

[Amiga]

Sit down on the ground with them. Play games on your phone, read a book, just sit still, then put treats around you (the way to a duck's heart is FOOD) and just wait. Before long they will be crawling all over you. You might be able to touch them then.

As I say, mine are still skittish, I just keep working with them. Good luck

With my Runners, this is the approach I have taken, and while some still don't like being touched, all of them will gather closely around me, standing on my feet, leaning on me, sometimes picking my pockets (the reason I don't carry metal objects that are small enough to swallow in my pocket.

I have a few huggers, but no one likes being picked up. So I just squat down and give'em gentle ducky hugs around the shoulders. Sometimes I can even sneak a kiss on the back of their necks.

 

[tracyjg]

Try sitting your small child down on the floor and gentle pet and hold them. With my 5 year old I say ok son you can touch them with two fingers. So it's soft and gentle . The adult is right there also . So the bird/ duck/ chicken/ turkey we have so many it's hard to keep track of what kind. Have him sit calmly. Whispering voices around animal. Not to scare them.

 

[tracyjg]

Like if you had a new born baby human.example but in these case it's a baby animal.

 

[DuckGirl77]

we have 2 that are 6 weeks old and what we do is sit down on the ground with them and they lay on my daughters leg but she's with them alot. It takes spending time with them.

That's what I do, too, and they love sitting on my lap! I agree, you've got to spend lots of time with them. Mine don't like being lifted off the ground, but they're fine once they are sitting on you. My Runner falls asleep all the time when I pick her up. In fact, someone was over at our house and picked her up, and she just closed her eyes and let her head droop. I thought they had killed her, but she was just comfortable! You have to just keep at it, and they'll get used to you.

 

[tracyjg]

I have a 5 year old with special needs. So he might not be able to hold birds well. But we play a game follow the leader. For children. But instead of other children. He is the leader. The ducks follow to bathtub kitchen sick or outside tub. He still helping out with bird. Adults follow close behind. Same way coming in or back to brooder/ coop. He can also help feed the birds / ducks . Help give water. Adult close so waters not to hot on bath or water they drink. Give treats.

 

[tracyjg]

Some pets just don't like being held.

 

[donaquijote]

I'd just keep the little duck warm and quiet with food and water and just see how he does. He may perk up within a day or two. So sweet but at this early stage they are fragile.

 

[rainbowchicks]

My sister bought 4 Pekins, and she is unable to keep them. They're 1 week younger than mine. I was going to take them with my muscovy and khaki... any tips on introducing the 2 mini flocks?

 

[Amiga]

My sister bought 4 Pekins, and she is unable to keep them. They're 1 week younger than mine. I was going to take them with my muscovy and khaki... any tips on introducing the 2 mini flocks?

Don't rush it - set up a temporary pen for the new ones, preferably where everyone can see each other.

I know someone who set up a pen inside a pen. But use temporary fence with small openings - some dimwit ducks will grab each other's heads through the fence - oy, the injuries!!!

Once everyone is about the same size (I know the Khakis will always be smaller), let them in a pen together under close supervision. Give them all treats - spread them widely so there's no pileup.

Anything more than a little chasing, or poking, separate them and try again later.

Eventually in most cases, everything sorts itself out nicely. But you always need to be aware than conflicts can develop, and someone will need a time out.