Runner Ducking Pack behavior

[MagicWillows]

We have had runner ducks for about 3 years now- usually getting 3-4 each year. We'd usually raise them in the house until they were big enough to go outside so the previous ducklings got more socializing.

This year we decided to get 10 ducklings and they arrived in April. One died after a few days so we have 9 now. This group started in our pole barn rather than in the house. I tried to handle them but they were always in such a tight group, I wasn't sure who I actually handled and played with. Now they are big enough to go out in the pastures. These ducklings still stick in such a tight group, they sometimes run over each other or stand on top of each other, trying to get away from everything. Sometimes they run each other into walls! I know runner ducks are more skittish but this group is ridiculously neurotic!

I thought maybe the older ducks could act as models but they don't really interact with the new ones even thought they are in the same pasture area. In the past, this has happened and then they all come together as a flock when they are in closer quarters over the winter. Do we just wait until they have to be put together or can we do something now to get these younger ones to adapt better?

Is it too late to get them to loosen up or to socialize them? Can I split them into groups of 3 with one of the older ducks for a while so they are not so neurotic and learn more about foraging around our farm?

 

[Nyssa03]

I think your idea of pairing a few of them up with one of the older ducks that is more social may help. We have had several new groups of runners and they have had several different degrees of skittishness and friendliness. The ones that were least afraid of me were brooded with some geese that I hatched in an incubator that happened to hatch the same week that the runners arrived. I think the geese were so used to hearing my voice they were not afraid at all and I think that influenced the runners. I think it may be easier to decrease their anxiety if you can have them like you said, and then spend some time just getting them used to your voice and being close to them. I have a few older ones (5 or 6 years) that are still pretty much afraid of us, but since the others come running to us, so do they --unless I'm trying to catch one LOL