Rescued Duckling... newbie

[Miss Lydia]

Says error on you link.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Fancy is gorgeous. So happy for you and Speedy that you were able to get her. Give her time she'll settle down. None of my female Muscovy's want me to hold them they were all raised by their mamas. Only my Muscovy drake who was raised by me wants me to cuddle and smooch on him.

 

[Raenh]

Ok, that makes me feel better cause that's kinda what I thought. She lets me hold her once I do get her, it's just the getting her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sitting with her on her level can help and offering some yummy dried meal worms can eventually get her eating out of your hand. When you get time lay or sit on the floor with them and just let them be around you she will most likely get comfortable with you because of Speedy being comfortable with you.

I want to see Speedy can you post another pic of him since the link didn't work?

 

[Raenh]

I don't know. She's crazy. She won't take anything from me, food or water, but if I set it down and walk away or speedy gets in it she'll eat it or drink. She gets all stubborn and refuses a lot. I've cleaned the cage bedding twice today because I go to clean out just the poo and wet spots and she freaks out and starts racing around like I'm trying to kill her and all I did was stick my hand in!

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is because she is not use to human contact. Just give her time and be patient.

Of course she won't eat out of your hand your a big predator right now. If you have their pen on the floor is there anyway you can place it up so your not coming up above them so much? I put my brooders on top of my table so when I am around them I am at eye level not coming in above them and looking like a predator. it may help. Maybe when your cleaning remove them into a large box till your through.

What I would do is every day I would just sit quietly with them if you can place her in a room where you don't have to chase her all over the house to pick her back up maybe let her and Speedy run around some and your just sitting on the floor with them. Let them come to you talk in a soft voice Have some dried meal worms and toss a few on the floor to them, after a few days toss closer to you so eventually they have to come right up to you but you don't try and touch you just sit and let them eat. This can take a few days to weeks but patience is the key. Although my female scovy's don't like for anyone including me to touch them they will eat meal worms out of my hand. And they are good at catching too. Sometimes I'll take some bread out and tear off small pieces and play catch with them .The girls are awesome at this my drake not so much. But I have had other drakes that were great at playing catch. [Bread isn't that good for them so keep it minimal]

How is Speedy with his new friend and the way she is acting?

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Peas! my ducks go nuts for peas! and they are way better for them than bread!
Both pics are very cute! love them both!
congrats on the the find and rescue!

 

[BaJa]

that certainly looks like a mallard duck

 

[Raenh]

So, an update is due! I've been letting them have the run of the house when I'm home - I so can't wait for the diaper to arrive.... lol. Speedy and fancy get along great. Fancy still runs from me if I'm walking near, but not quite in the crazy way now. And I've been letting her stay out of the cage at night to sleep with speedy and I. I still can't pick her up without a chase, but if I lay down with speedy, and put a pillow down on the floor, fancy will climb up it to the couch and come lay on me to cuddle with me and speedy. Still wont take out of my hand, but will eat it now if I toss it gently over. I do cherries and I have river shrimp aka hermit crab food lol. Speedy loves those and fancy finally eats them too while they're in the bath. Oh, and they were originally in my old rabbit cage, sitting on top of a cedar chest, I bought them a rabbit hutch and a playpen, but we don't use the playpen much yet.

 

[Raenh]

and I'm starting to think speedy is female and a mallard too... which is what I thought to begin with, which reinforces my belief that he was dumped there by a human as a week old baby!!!