When is it too late to bond with new ducklings and chicks

[carolinec]

Hi I am totally new to ducks and chickens and don´t actually have any yet.

I have found this site very helpful but there is so much information on the internet that I would like to ask a few specific questions please.

We are wanting to get a couple of ducklings and a couple of chicks. I wasn´t wanting any males is this OK to only have females.

We have a spare bit of land that measures 1,000 square meters (10,763 square feet) It is fenced and walled but one side is only about 4 feet high is this high enough as I will want to clipp their wings.

We still need to sort out some sort of accomodation for them.

We don´t seem to have any foxes or anything else that may harm them in this area but do have owls and one or two other birds of prey.

I am wanting them to be as free range as possible during the day but will put them in their house at night time.

I am wanting to keep them purely for eggs and would never dream of eating them. We are also wanting them to be tame and family pets.

I need to know is there a cut off point for getting them where they wont bond and be friendly.

 

[Kevin565]

. Technically it's never to late to bond with.Spending time with them and treats will help them warm up to you. However, some breeds are more likely to be friendlier than others. If you want very friendly ducks you may want to consider Muscovies. The best age for bonding with ducks is the first 24 hours because that is when they imprint

 

[carolinec]

Hi Kevin 565,

Thank you for your reply. Hopefully I will be able to bond with them as I am at home full time so can spend quite a bit of time with them.

 

[Kevin565]

Your very welcome. Also in general the smaller the amount of birds the easier it's going to be to tame them all. It's very hard to tame 6 ducklings at one time but 2 or 3 can be quite easy with spending time and treats.

 

[j and bs hens]

Welcome to BYC from BC!!!

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[greymane]

I agree with Kevin. I think the younger the better, but you can bond with most if you spend enough time with them.

 

[The Red Rooster]

You can bond with them when they get older, but it's a little harder. The younger the better for bonding.

 

[Renegade Rescue]

Welcome to BYC. We also have birds of prey and have to geese to alert our Ducks of any predator from either the ground or sky to date no losses and the ducks have learned to react to the Geese and their sounds. For our baby ducks we have purchased another duck to grow up and bond with them to protect them has our other two do our adult ducks. Good luck I love to watch our ducks and geese.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad you joined.