Phil the Magpie

[MadiLarson]

So I got my first duck today and I just kind of dove in blind. I saw him/her in the feed store and just instantly fell in love. I named him/her after Phil from Duck Dynasty (I'm a lover of irony).

I'm nervous though. I've spent every minute with this duckling and I love it to death but I've read magpies don't like their owners when they get big! )': He really seems to love when I hold him close to me, securely but he does have occasional freak outs where he tried to climb on top of my head. So I guess my question for magpie owners would be, do magpies grow up to be friendly or non social?

I'd also like everyone to know I'm posting this from a recliner I pulled next to Phil's tub because I'm trying to get him to sleep and if he can't see me he starts to chirp as if to say "Mom, where are you? Come watch me watch you!" He likes doing that, watch me. I think he thinks I'm his mom (not a bad thing). Could he possibly be lonely since he's the only duck?

Oh, and not having much luck in the sleep department. He's wide awake.

He keeps doing this thing where he'll stretch one leg out behind him while he's laying down and just lay like that for a minute or so and then bring it back in, is that normal?

Oh, and I don't know if he's a he or a she, the lady at the feedstore said I'd have to wait until his sex feathers came in because it was a mixed batch. How long does that usually take and is there a faster way to tell now?

Thanks a billion!

 

[jonhpdx]

So I got my first duck today and I just kind of dove in blind. I saw him/her in the feed store and just instantly fell in love. I named him/her after Phil from Duck Dynasty (I'm a lover of irony).

I'm nervous though. I've spent every minute with this duckling and I love it to death but I've read magpies don't like their owners when they get big! )': He really seems to love when I hold him close to me, securely but he does have occasional freak outs where he tried to climb on top of my head. So I guess my question for magpie owners would be, do magpies grow up to be friendly or non social?

Yes, he's definitely lonely, and he definitely has at least partially imprinted on you. Ducks generally work better and are less stressed out if they have a friend. You should seriously consider getting a friend for Phil if you can.

Oh, and not having much luck in the sleep department. He's wide awake.

Totally normal.

Oh, and I don't know if he's a he or a she, the lady at the feedstore said I'd have to wait until his sex feathers came in because it was a mixed batch. How long does that usually take and is there a faster way to tell now?

You can sex ducklings by looking at their vent if they are under a week old (google this or look it up in the sticky topics of this forum for more info). If not, you'll have to wait until around 4-5 weeks when the duckling starts getting his/her adult voice. Females have a louder, more traditional "quack" sound, and males a more raspy, subdued voice. After that, probably the most definitive way to tell is when their sex feathers come in. A male with have a feather that curls up on his tail, and a female won't.

Thanks a billion!

Oh, and

 

[MadiLarson]

jonhpdx thanks so much! And about him imprinting on me, would that make him less partial to other humans because he tends to freak out if someone else tries to hold him.

 

[jonhpdx]

It could, yes. Just depends on the temperament/age of your duck sometimes.