- Apr 22, 2014
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I don't know how big your brood is, but if they can travel together (dog crate or something) they will be less stressed than if they are taken 1 at a time (just make sure they can't jump out). Depending on your layout, you can herd them into it, or lure them in with some peas or other treats. You should try to handle them fairly often I would say at least daily while they are living inside and at least 1 time per week once they live outside even if they don't like it. If they struggle a lot, just pick them up, set them down and give them a treat. If they will settle down in a minute or two, hold them just long enough for them to settle down then let them go. Eventually they will need to be held for foot examination, slivers, cuts, etc. It is best that they are used to it and they will stress less down the road if they consider holding an unpleasant but unavoidable aspect of "normal" life. All my ducks can now be held without having elevated heart rates. Some hang their heads in submission and don't do anything, others are just their normal happy selves and I can pet them and feed them treats. None of them "like" to be picked up. The funny thing is it has nothing to do with how they otherwise behave. Pocahontas, my Cayuga, is constantly under foot. She wants to know everything I am doing all the time. When I am in the yard and doing something she is almost always within 2 feet of me. If I am just sitting watching the ducks, she spends about 50% of her time under my chair or in front of me pecking at my feet, pulling at my pant legs, or just lying down looking at me the other 50% she spends foraging or sleeping with the rest of the flock. She hates being picked up and goes into a submissive coma when picked up. She won't eat, she won't interact, she just hangs her head. Tevye wouldn't give me the time of day unless I had a treat in my hand. He is either in the pool or wandering around looking at the clouds or foraging. If I pick him up, he will eat treats. I can sit him on my lap or on top of the picnic table and pet him and he is good with it. He will look at me and not be scared and a session like this can go on 15 minutes with no sign of stress. When I put him down he slowly wanders off.
Unless the chickens were real mean to him, he probably considered them his flock. My ducks HATE being away from their flock. If they got outside a fence like that and couldn't figure out how to get back in, they would lay beside it. I had a duck squeeze under my front fence door (which we have since adjusted). Two hours later, she was still within 2 feet of the door and wanted to go back to her flock. I can't see a duck going more than twice as far away as it is used to in a work day unless something chased it. I am sorry but I would guess a predator (maybe in the neighbor's yard so you didn't see any sign of it). Perhaps a dog could grab him and run off without leaving a sign. I hope I am wrong, but ducks have very strong ties to their flock and most likely he would be trying hard to get back in the fence if he got out. Best case perhaps a local kid snagged him and their parents will make them return him. I would ask around the neighborhood. If it was a dog or a kid or if he just wandered off, that would most likely get you an answer.My 2 month old Indian Runner duck ran away!
He was living in the chicken coop but had his own sleeping box. The chicken run is electric fence and the chickens don't escape, but apparently the duck was immune and must have slipped under the fence. He was in his sleeping box when I left for work and now he is gone
Is it possible he will return? I looked under all the bushes and all over the yard but didn't even hear quacking. He was too young to fly and I saw no sign of struggle or feathers, and it was broad daylight, so I am not thinking it was a predator.
Anyone have this happen? Any advice on getting him back?
