Science fair expierament

[thedouph]

gh

Oh, thats another good idea! Hmm...since we only have under a month to do this, i think the treat idea might be easier, though training them is definetly something i want to do

 

[Kaessa]

Guess what happened when I wore a green t-shirt around my Wobbles.

 

[Amiga]

From Day One, my ducklings would nibble anything green. yup.

However, they still will not eat red food.

 

[solarpup]

You should also check with your local science fair organizers about the rules regarding science fair experiments with the ducks. I believe you when you say no harm will come to the ducks, and it's great that you've arranged homes for them ahead of time. But here in the Boston area, any science fair experiment involving live animals has to first be approved by a committee of the organizers. This is in fact how all ethical labs operate – they have an "Animal Use and Care Committee" with outside members from the local community, who review the protocols on how the animals will be treated before, during, and after the experiment. (I've been judging Boston area science fairs for the last dozen years or so, and my wife who is a veterinarian is part of the committee that reads through all the science fair entries that plan to use animals of any kind.)

Now, as far as science experiments, how about something involving clicker training? Can you get the ducks to do a simple task when you use a clicker? You could divide the ducks into two groups. You could either change the clicker from group to group, or you can change the reward (e.g., peas for one, dried meal worms for the other).

We tried to clicker train our ducks using peas, but as far as we got was to clicker train them to eat peas (It did work. Every time they heard the click, they'd come running over looking for peas.)

I think you can find some duck clicker training videos on YouTube.

 

[Aronia]

be careful-ducks bite

 

[Amiga]

I don't doubt Aronia's experience, but none of my ducks has ever bitten anyone. I have heard of it, but just have not seen it in this flock.

 

[Amykins]

I don't doubt Aronia's experience, but none of my ducks has ever bitten anyone. I have heard of it, but just have not seen it in this flock.

Wobbles will when he's in season (as I've quickly found), but from a day old to a month they're very docile and sweet. If you remember to handle them every day and give them lots of attention they won't even mind being picked up and cuddled!