Ducks imprint on the first largest (usually living or moving) thing they see when they hatch. It's usually the momma duck and their siblings. they understand then that they are a duck. If they see humans, they'll think they are humans, but the instinct of being a duck is so strong, they will revert back to ducks if that's their only choice, but those ducks tend to be more likely to walk up to humans to get food/treats later on.
What I'm talking about is the BOND, which is separate and different from the IMPRINT. The IMPRINT happens within the first three days, often within the first couple hours (So If you get your ducks from a hatchery that incubates them, the are most likely imprinted on humans). The BOND is completely different. Any ducks can bond to any individual depending on a few factors- the duck's personality, how much time they spend with ONE person while little, if treats are used, ect... We played with our groupings of two ducklings, but placed them in brooders where they could peep to each each but couldn't snuggle or see each other (that is until my runner were old enough and figured out that if they stood on their food dishes they could pop their heads up and see each other to talk lol). We gave our little ones Mirrors so they didn't feel so alone, and we made "windows" out of plexi glass and glued them into the plastic containers so they could see out (at us). We often toted their brooders around with us, depending on what room we were in, and we placed them in our room at night and covered the brooder with a light fleece blanket so they wouldn't get scared (we made sure to cut air holes on both sides of the container as well.) They lived in those containers until they were 4-5 weeks old then we moved them to a bigger brooder where they were allowed to live together. At that point they were big enough and bonded enough to their human, that they also bonded to their duck sibling/friend. Each of my ducks has a "human mommy" (although two see Joe, aka Duck_Feeder as mommy) and they have a bonded ducky friend. Ming Mei and Victor have the strongest bonds since I spent the most time with them, and they lived apart the longest (until they were 8 weeks old). the two we adopted are imprinted to humans and even though we got them at 8 months old, they have bonded to us by spending time with us. Vinny seems to like me a bit more than Joe, while Ollie adores him and knows he's the boss (I'm third in the pecking order according to her lol). Then we have the two younger ones who are joe's ducks. they don't respond very well to me since I didn't handle them much when they were little. Norie trusts me since I was there for her when she got sick
(you'll often here of a duck bonding better to a human even at an older age due to being quarantined inside while sick/injured) although her bonded ducky friend Moxy has always opened her mouth and showed she didn't like me much. lol.
I have heard of ducks and Geese bonding to a human at even older ages like, over a year old, especially if they had that original human imprint. It all depends on how much time you spend with them individually. If the OP's ducklings seems to be squirmy or not wanting to be held, I suggest getting some extra large bed pads, and letting them crawl on your lap while touching them/petting them and have "pick up" training (holding them for short bursts). Some ducks, no matter what, will hate being picked up. My Ming Mei has the strongest bond, to me, but she hates being picked up, by anyone including me and will kick and put up a fight. However she loves sitting on my lap, being pet, and standing on my shoulder. Then I have victor, who loves to be held, even like a baby, by people who he trusts. He occasionally will allow a stranger to hold him up without kicking, but he always lets anyone pet him. It really depends on the duck and their personality. Vinny is our indiscriminate lover... lol. Even though he was neglected when little (from 3 months old til 8 moths old) by his human, he immediately blended well into our little flock and just loves everyone... ducks and humans alike. when we bring him to the pet store with us, he always makes a new friend (usually little kids). Ollie will be pet sometimes, by joe, but does not tolerate being picked up or petted by me unless she's really hormonal... Norie is scared of everything until you get close enough to catch her, then she is a lover... silly duck.... like I said, all depends on the duck...
