Update on my Psycho Runners

[crj]

I can't help but laugh. My runners do the same thing. They have there days when they are trusting but lately they are running behind there coop. It's like they found a new place to go....... haha, I swear, they are sooo goofy. I keep a stool in there pen. The pen is all sand and I put sod in two different places. They love it. Well, when I go into the pen with broccoli leaves they almost come running. It's like ducky crack.......

They absolutely love the stuff. They love tomatoes too but they get there fill of that pretty quick then run and hide. I also cut grapes in half. They love those too. They will stick around for that.

I wonder if it's the change of clothes. Always coming to see them looking different. Makes me wonder if they think I'm always a different person. They know my voice but they are still weary unless I have broccoli leaves. There are days where they are terrified of me.

Hopefully they will learn I'm not a bad guy. Although, maybe they notice 5 roosters missing. They were processed........ yep, they went to freezer camp. Do you think the ducks might think they are next?

 

[tia]

Did you get them as adults? The runners that I hatched in an incubator and raised are very tame. I ordered two adult birds and they are not tame. The female has warmed up some, but the drake not so much.That is too bad. They are very comical and I like mine very much.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Quote:
No they were purchased as day olds and very tame until around 4 weeks old then they went whacky on me.

 

[crj]

I got mine at 2 days old. I can't figure out why they are afraid of me either. They were raised in my house to boot! They will come to me to eat a snack but always keep there distance.

 

[tia]

I pick mine up and pet them quite a bit. They like their neck scratched. : ) I feed them lots of peas and treats too.

 

[jmc]

sorry to hear that, v. i was thinking about zilla's case with her WHs. her holderread stock was less tame than her metzer stock, if i rememhber correctly. so maybe the ultra-pure strains of DHs are a bit more nutty. i don't know. but so much depends on so many variables. different strains, etc. genetic inheritance. but yes indeed, my anconas do the pack thing too. even if they don't know why, if one decides it is spook time, they all decide it is spook time. (but of course, even we humans are like that--think of the stupid stock market behavior, eh? we ain't much smarter than ducks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol) but yeah, if you can get alone and isolate the least skittish ones, band em or something and use the others as tooth picks......................etc. etc.

 

[L0rraine]

So I was so thinking of your frustrations today as my favorite Runner was attacking me while I was trying to move my Silkie chicks from one enclosure to another. She's turned into an insane protector ever since her ducklings hatched. She rushes me and attacks me anytime a I try to pick up any of the flock. Today her name has been changed (at least temporarily) from Miss Mary to Mad Mary.

 

[Wifezilla]

My 3 Metzer wh were brooded by me. The Holderread's ducks were raised in a big flock. To me that was the difference. Small number raised by a human vs large number together. for tame ducks, raise 2 or 3 at a time and your odds will be much better for mellow pets.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Too late for that now but a good suggestion.
I knew Runners were hyper but I guess I wasn't
expecting that they were this dumb and wild.
Hopefully I will get a few out of the group that are tolerable.

 

[JJchiknshak]

My baby runners used to climb into my lap all by themselves... Since they've been integrated with the 2 older one, they avoid me like the plague... unless I have peas.