I've been really wanting to get some runners one of these days. Your grey one is just absolutely gorgeous!!!! I'm in love!
Be patient with them, sing a song to them, the same every time, wear the same jacket. Aproach them slowly, if you are walking by them stop and wave your hands in a direction they can go to get out of your path if they want, if they are in a corner or feel cornered, use something to herd them out of the corner so they dont feel trapped, have the same routine for months, and gain their trust by your learning more about duck behavior and they will finally learn your not a predator. If you want to interact get on their level, sit on the ground or a low chair or stoll. I spend hours out there with them, paying no mind to what they are doing (too much eye contact makes some of them nervous) Ducks not raised by their mama are a little faster to warm up to people, but with every new change in their life, like mine going outside, it takes a couple weeks to get used to you being the lady with the food, and recognizing your voice or a famillar gesture or sound you make every time you see them. I sing fere jacues to them and when I am coming around to the back, with the dog, or just out gardening I warn them as I come around the corner by making a whistle I have done since they were 2 wks. They still suffer setbacks like if I put a new thing in their space, or the back door opens too quickly or a person comes up to the fence other than me, they have to regain their calmness. If i mess up and frighten them by accident, forgetting to do the usual routine things, they dont trust me for a day or two untill they realize I am not there to eat them. My Mallard and my Kacki Cambell are the most spookable ducks and since the Kacki runs the flock she sends them all in a panic over the littlest thing. I think ducks can be tamed, but like all birds, they still have their instincts, and although they are smarter than chickens for sure, they still have thier spacey moments, like tonight I messed up their routine, I put something new in their house ( a galvanized waterer for the baby chicks ) and they refused to go in their house till I took it out, then they were so unsettled I had to pick the rouens up and put them in there for them to get the idea to follow the Kacki and the white crested into the house.
I am kind of in te same boat as you and feel for you. Mine are only about a month old, but if I put my hand anywhere near them or walk close to them, they act like I'm trying to kill them. I do talk to mine whenever I can, too, and sometimes they will peep at me. I hope they don't end up super standoffish as adults :/ I am one of those people that likes to pat animals now and then as part of affection.
Khaki's are't quiet, my little Brownie is the loudest of the 6 I have right now and she can fly, the pekin was the loudest but no flying for that heavy gal, but I rehomed her because she was trampling the mallards and khaki cambell. If you want quiet, go with mallards or muscovy just learn how to clip their wings so they don't fly away. Great starter birds are pekins, they do the best with cozy quarters but if you need a quiet or friendly bird I would go with Rouen or welsh. I think Cayuga is listed as a calm breed but I have no first hand experience with them. I must say listed on the metzer list as a nervous breed, my White crested is the sweetest, calmest duck I have, she is the only one who will eat out of my hand and won't freak when I pick her up mabey that is one you should get. I got a mix of breeds, then just rehomed the ones that didnt fit into my flock, mabey u should consider a variety for your first ducks Hope this helps, Jennifer
Me too...my hubby and neighbord think I am nuts because I am always walking around quacking at my "kids" even the wild ducks in our pond come up to me now
Id rather be on the safe side too..you can "confine" them with out it being cruel confinment, just make sure they have at least 2-4' square feet per bird inside and if they don't free range or have a dedicated pretator proof run, give em a lil more room, ducks like to run and frolic w/each other especially when they are playing in their water. You should see them at mating time, or when the females are challanging each other, they need a little get-away space It kills me to see ads or pic online where they have these ducks in cages the size of a nest box or in a crate for their whole life .
give it time, they will come around. like the lady told me that I got my first flock from, spend lots of time with them, hand feed them when they are old enough...make em work for their food
