Sitting duck... literally.

[MarleyandMav]

I accidentally dropped an open hand towel on my duck and she sat down underneath it. I quickly picked her up to make sure she was ok. She was oddly calm. I thought this was very strange considering she’s usually pretty loud and chatty. Here’s the even stranger part though, the next time I got close to her with a hand towel she sat down again. Is this normal? I’m learning to be a duck mom and I’m so scared I’ve done something wrong.

 

[CHlCKEN]

I accidentally dropped an open hand towel on my duck and she sat down underneath it. I quickly picked her up to make sure she was ok. She was oddly calm. I thought this was very strange considering she’s usually pretty loud and chatty. Here’s the even stranger part though, the next time I got close to her with a hand towel she sat down again. Is this normal? I’m learning to be a duck mom and I’m so scared I’ve done something wrong.

it’s ok, she probably just squatting- this is the action of a female duck, getting in position for a drake. Chickens and ducks will squat when you reach down to pick them up, it’s just a natural thing

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Their natural instinct is to freeze when a predator, like a hawk, is around. She may just think hand towels fit into that category now.

 

[MarleyandMav]

it’s ok, she probably just squatting- this is the action of a female duck, getting in position for a drake. Chickens and ducks will squat when you reach down to pick them up, it’s just a natural thing

this is the funniest thing to me! I never would’ve figured that out on my own, at least not on this side of being a duck mom!

 

[MarleyandMav]

Their natural instinct is to freeze when a predator, like a hawk, is around. She may just think hand towels fit into that category now.

....I wondered this too, I tried to google this but all that came up was a bunch a swan town tutorials. Charlotte is new to our duck family. She’s coop domesticated, but my coop is new to her. I need to make sure I’m extra careful with her. Right now I’m working to get her to trust me. I sit with her when she eats, and sing to her in the evenings. Tonight she let herself doze off while I was singing instead of carefully watching me. I felt like I’d won a marathon.

 

[CHlCKEN]

this is the funniest thing to me! I never would’ve figured that out on my own, at least not on this side of being a duck mom!

It’s ok! We all have something we’re nervous about when it comes to the birds

 

[CHlCKEN]

....I wondered this too, I tried to google this but all that came up was a bunch a swan town tutorials. Charlotte is new to our duck family. She’s coop domesticated, but my coop is new to her. I need to make sure I’m extra careful with her. Right now I’m working to get her to trust me. I sit with her when she eats, and sing to her in the evenings. Tonight she let herself doze off while I was singing instead of carefully watching me. I felt like I’d won a marathon.

I’m really glad you spend time with them to bond

 

[FunQuail]

....I wondered this too, I tried to google this but all that came up was a bunch a swan town tutorials. Charlotte is new to our duck family. She’s coop domesticated, but my coop is new to her. I need to make sure I’m extra careful with her. Right now I’m working to get her to trust me. I sit with her when she eats, and sing to her in the evenings. Tonight she let herself doze off while I was singing instead of carefully watching me. I felt like I’d won a marathon.

I totally get it! It's like we are are becoming friends and you don't think I'm absolutely terrifying! When mine were ducklings they were scared of me but if the dog walked by or a bird flew over or trying to introduce them to the ducklings who are older and didn't like having them around it was "run under her she'll protect us!" ok so apparently I'm not that terrifying.
Good luck!

 

[MarleyandMav]

I totally get it! It's like we are are becoming friends and you don't think I'm absolutely terrifying! When mine were ducklings they were scared of me but if the dog walked by or a bird flew over or trying to introduce them to the ducklings who are older and didn't like having them around it was "run under her she'll protect us!" ok so apparently I'm not that terrifying.
Good luck!

Yes! So Charlotte will usually scurry away from me. My husband and I are in the process of building a new run for our coop, and I needed to move the ducks. My Mav will flap away from me once or twice and then he just sits in my hands. Well Charlotte usually scurries for a few seconds, I’m careful not to chase her, and then I can pick her up. Last night I reached in, she scurried, I got her, and then she immediately sat down in my arms. I looked over at my husband grinning with victory and said, “our future children will win every chicken race.”