Scared Duckling?

[CoryV]

My ducklings are 4 weeks old (Jumbo Pekin) and one of the girls seems really afraid of me. When I feed them from my hand she wants nothing to do with me and will run away whenever I try to get close. I dont have this issue with the other ducklings. The other thing she will do is when I do get close to her is she will charge my hand/arm and push her breasts into me like she is trying to push me away. Any tips on how I can change this behavior? The only reason I can think of to explain why she is like this is that maybe a week before I was lowering her down to the ground and she jumped out of my hands because I was holding her wrong and she fell awkwardly.

 

[sourland]

Since they are prey animals, most poultry have a fear of anything coming at them from above. Try kneeling when you offer to hand feed her. Feed is a great equalizer, and if you keep her hungry enough she will have to come to you. Do not pursue her - make her come to you. This may be a result of the fall, but frequently in my experience ducklings go through a 'fearful' phase as teenagers. Very likely she will outgrow this behavior.