Raising Friendly Ducklings... HELP!!?!

[CarleeAnn]

I think having a larger number of ducklings influences them to behave more like a duck- like prey. Having only my two ducklings and keeping the brooder beside our bed (in a studio apartment) really helped. They saw us all the time and we sat next to them anyways. I slept with my hand in the brooder because they would peep, peep, peep all night if it wasn’t there. We handled them daily, taking them to swim and hand feeding them. I would lay towels down on the bed and over me to let them cuddle when I was watching tv. They are outdoor ducks now and transitioning them to be that way after a good four months indoors took a lot of effort. I’m sure your babies will grow to trust you, especially because food is the way to any animals heart. Even my loving ducks don’t want cuddles anymore- they do greet us in the yard and will run to us if they get scared, but they just as easily get frightened of me and run away if I’m holding a water hose or jingle some keys! Ducks are ducks.

 

[AquaDuck]

Aww! They are so cute!

I've got muscovies, so I don't know if there's a difference to other ducks in terms of "natural tameness". All the ones I've had that I've incubated myself has been most friendly, but especially when there's few of them. I had a batch of nine, and they were a bit more distant. There's also individual differences.

I keep mine in the bathroom the first two weeks, so they get a lot of "traffic" around them. I don't pet them or try to touch them too much too much, but pick them carefully up and put them on the floor. They love running around. Also pecking on my hand. If I have a treat, they'll ignore it and keep nibbling my hand. Forcing yourself on them will only make them timid, so let them come to you. You're a 100 times bigger than them, so it's natural for them to think you're a little scary.
Oh, and try making quacking noices. Then I trill like a mother duck, they start chirruping and come running. Super funny to have them follow me around on the floor!

 

[mybackyardgals]

I think having a larger number of ducklings influences them to behave more like a duck- like prey. Having only my two ducklings and keeping the brooder beside our bed (in a studio apartment) really helped. They saw us all the time and we sat next to them anyways. I slept with my hand in the brooder because they would peep, peep, peep all night if it wasn’t there. We handled them daily, taking them to swim and hand feeding them. I would lay towels down on the bed and over me to let them cuddle when I was watching tv. They are outdoor ducks now and transitioning them to be that way after a good four months indoors took a lot of effort. I’m sure your babies will grow to trust you, especially because food is the way to any animals heart. Even my loving ducks don’t want cuddles anymore- they do greet us in the yard and will run to us if they get scared, but they just as easily get frightened of me and run away if I’m holding a water hose or jingle some keys! Ducks are ducks.

I bottle feed a two day old kitten that’s mama was hit by a car... I was the same way! He slept right beside me. If he sneezed I woke up to check on him!
Now he is big and would just LOVE to play with my baby ducks... so sleeping indoors isn’t a safe option for the lil peepers.
Thanks for sharing your story!!