Too old for momma?

[CandQ]

My ducklings love to cuddle, which has been an amazing unexpected bonus to their arrival! I was just wondering - is this something that they will always do? Or do they grow out of it, just like adult babies?

 

[countrygirl74]

My ducks kind of grew out of it. One of my Pekins, when she was a duckling would hop up into my lap when I was sitting on the floor and was just lay right there - I loved it. Then all our ducks went through a stage over a few months where they weren't overly friendly. They would come up to me if I was just sitting there but they didn't want to be held or pet - or caught! Now, they are kind of warming up again. I can catch them pretty easily and if I am sitting down outside, my one girl that used to hop into my lap, will sometimes still do just that. I love it! So, they're not AS cuddly, but just be patient, spend as much time as you can with them, and don't underestimate the power of peas. LOL

 

[CandQ]

My ducks kind of grew out of it. One of my Pekins, when she was a duckling would hop up into my lap when I was sitting on the floor and was just lay right there - I loved it. Then all our ducks went through a stage over a few months where they weren't overly friendly. They would come up to me if I was just sitting there but they didn't want to be held or pet - or caught! Now, they are kind of warming up again. I can catch them pretty easily and if I am sitting down outside, my one girl that used to hop into my lap, will sometimes still do just that. I love it! So, they're not AS cuddly, but just be patient, spend as much time as you can with them, and don't underestimate the power of peas. LOL

Aaw I'm glad you're getting your cuddles back! Thanks for giving me a little time to prepare myself, just in case. Patience I can do, and spending time with them is ALL I want to do! I didn't know about the peas, though! Really? How young is too young to start giving them peas? Yay for bribery lol

 

[countrygirl74]

Aaw I'm glad you're getting your cuddles back! Thanks for giving me a little time to prepare myself, just in case. Patience I can do, and spending time with them is ALL I want to do!

I didn't know about the peas, though! Really? How young is too young to start giving them peas? Yay for bribery lol

I waited a few weeks before I started giving them any treats - just my preference, some start sooner. I just wanted to make sure they were eating their feed (getting their nutrients) and drinking their niacin water.
When you do start treats, you will need to also provide grit. Just get frozen peas and let them thaw out. If the ducklings are really little, I would squish the peas up a little. As they grow, don't have to worry about smashing the peas. We would put the ducklings on the kitchen floor and roll the peas and they would go after them like crazy - so much fun. Mine are outside and older now but they will still ATTACK me for peas, so if you are ever missing them crawling all over you, just try the peas.

 

[Miss Lydia]

And here is some good reading in case you haven't seen it. cg gave some very good advise also.. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/256233/ducks-sticky-topics-index

And