Socializing Ducks

[V-NH]

Hello everyone,

Do you have any tips for socializing ducks? My chicks (about a week old) have already warmed up to me so much that they will eat from my hand or perch on my finger. My ducklings want absolutely nothing to do with me. As soon as they see me they all start chirping wildly. If I put my hand in the stock tank they run away as fast as they can. I tried picking them up and putting them onto the floor to give them more space to explore and they freaked out when I was holding them and promptly ran in different directions around the room when I set them down. If you had seen me, a guy who is well over six feet tall, trying to capture the ducklings and return them to the stock tank, you would have burst out laughing. One of them hid behind the stock tank and every time I reached for it, it slowly waddled to the other side where I couldn't reach it. When I went to that side, the duck went to the previous side. I hope that experience didn't make them fearful of me. Even when trying to recapture them, I moved slowly and was very gentle with them.

Another question I have is how to keep their brooder clean. I change their bedding every day because they soak it completely. The moment I change it, they go over, stick their bills into the waterer, and start soaking it all over again. Is it okay for them to be in a moist environment until I clean it again? I mean, I know they are waterfowl, but I just want to make sure.

Any information would be really and truly appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[Going Quackers]

Time and food, honestly this depends on how tame you exactly want. See for mine, they will herd for me, not attack me and will chirp and wag(there Muscovy lol) and if i have to i can grab them and physically hold them for care. That said, they are not lap pets, don't eat out of my hand and do not follow me about, which is just how i like it.

As for the brooder, i would research threads quite a few have good tips on water management, i like horse pellet bedding and a basic plant saucer under waterers.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello everyone,

Do you have any tips for socializing ducks? My chicks (about a week old) have already warmed up to me so much that they will eat from my hand or perch on my finger. My ducklings want absolutely nothing to do with me. As soon as they see me they all start chirping wildly. If I put my hand in the stock tank they run away as fast as they can. I tried picking them up and putting them onto the floor to give them more space to explore and they freaked out when I was holding them and promptly ran in different directions around the room when I set them down. If you had seen me, a guy who is well over six feet tall, trying to capture the ducklings and return them to the stock tank, you would have burst out laughing. One of them hid behind the stock tank and every time I reached for it, it slowly waddled to the other side where I couldn't reach it. When I went to that side, the duck went to the previous side. I hope that experience didn't make them fearful of me. Even when trying to recapture them, I moved slowly and was very gentle with them.

Another question I have is how to keep their brooder clean. I change their bedding every day because they soak it completely. The moment I change it, they go over, stick their bills into the waterer, and start soaking it all over again. Is it okay for them to be in a moist environment until I clean it again? I mean, I know they are waterfowl, but I just want to make sure.

Any information would be really and truly appreciated!

Thanks.

It takes alot of patience, but it can be done. How many ducklings are we talking about and how old? when you are in the room with them don't pick them up as much as just letting them come to you on their own time line. get some dried meal worms, TSC has them and start tossing a few around, one quick way to get to a ducklings heart is through his tummy. And we have to remeber ducklings are prey and when they see us big and tall it puts the flight fear into them till they get to know us as the bearer of all good things. Since you are tall and large man I would spend alot of time with them on the floor, even when you put them down if they run to different places just sit down and wait, they will most likely come out of hiding to find each other, and there you will be sitting there waitng with a yummy snack. here is a link to info on ducklings and a pic of a homemeade waterer that keeps the mess down some. It's hard to keep their bedding completely dry but putting the waterer on a pan can help. All the best. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

 

[V-NH]

Yah, I am not looking for lap pets. I would just like to get them to the point where they tolerate me. I currently have three ducklings. The link to that thread about duckling care was a HUGE help.