Rubyismyduck Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 (edited) hi, i have 3 new ducks, i think mallard, little and brown, boy has a green head, two girls, one drake and they seem quite scared of me and i want to kno wwhat i can do to "bond" with them, my hens love us they come running to us and love cuddles but not my new ducks please help, bottom line: how to i make freinds with my ducks? feathers, Buck, Cully, freda, Hendalora, Heiocenth, Ruby, Ern, Drake, fred, Buttons, Daisy Edited January 3, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubyismyduck Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share Posted December 5, 2008 PLEASE SOMEONE REPLY NEED HELP!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 OK I find my ducks are far less friendly than the hens - they just run away. You could try coaxing them with some mixed corn and try to get them to feed from your hand - it may work eventually. Have you looked at the Practical Poultry forum? - they have many more duck keepers over there and you could ask what others have done. Good luck - I'm sure you will soon find them a bit more friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanut12 Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 I;ve had ducks for about 4 months now. They are much less confident than my hens but I am gradually getting closer, can get within a foot if I'm holding food Stick with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubyismyduck Posted December 9, 2008 Author Share Posted December 9, 2008 hi, i just had a bad experience i tried to feed my ducks and they ran and hid in their house and have stayed there a long time and i think i need some help, can someone please give me a phone number or an MSN so i can talk to you in person i promice im not a bad guy or a wierdo so just send me a private message on my profile and make a newbie happy, please please please please im not a bad guy please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 You need to be patient. I haven't got any ducks myself but my in-laws have and as others have said, they are more hesitant. Try to remember how your hens were when you first got them and now they come running to you. Just sit in the area you have for the ducks with some food. You could sit and read a book when the weather gets better. They will get used to you being there and hopefully be a bit more inquisitive. Don't worry even though it can be frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 I don't have ducks, but try taking them out of their coop at night when it is dark. They should be very docile and more likely to be calm. Get them used to you handling them, and as the others have said, take your time with them. You need to build up trust. We discourage members giving out other contact details such as telephone numbers etc. due to internet safety. Good luck with your ducks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubyismyduck Posted December 9, 2008 Author Share Posted December 9, 2008 ok thanks guys for your help ill try it today i had no idea about tyhe night time thing ill try it and i respect all rules and regulations of omlet so just keep me posted ok thakns,xxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Good information above - and you could also go onto the Practical Poultry forum and see what other duck keepers are doing. They have many more duck keepers over there. I'm sure it won't be long before you have more friendly ducks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubyismyduck Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 okey dokey but erm where is the practical poultry colud you give me a link please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 It is www.practicalpoultry.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheChookKeeper Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 I am so glad someone posted this - I thought I was the only one! My 2 ducks are terrified of me! Bless them, they are MUCH better than they used to be, but I haven't come in physical contact with them since I took them out of the box I bought them in, and that was back in the Spring!!! I can get within about 1ft of them now, if I let them come to me, but if I walk towards them, even slowly, they will start to waddle off when I get within about 3-4ft. I think they know me and my sister (who I live with), as they are less bothered with us than they are with other people - but I was worried I was the only one! Thank you! I have resigned myself to the fact they will probably never be very friendly - I just hope neither of them ever need my attention in a close and personal fashion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Ours are in a large run and we never get near them - they wait until we've gone before waddling at top speed to collect any treats If we need to look at them we have to use a large net to catch them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayo Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Hi there, Christian, as usual, has got it exactly right. Night time is best. Remember always to move more slowly than when you’re around the chickens; and, if it’s not too late, Never chase them : ducks have got good memories and once you’ve shown that you’re the hunter, they will always assume that they’re the prey!! I’m sure you don’t need to be told that any time spent trying to work out what their favourite food treat is, will be time well spent. (Halved grapes or cherry tomatoes or any other sweet fruit are a good start). If you can bear it, when conditions are suitable, actually lie down near them with treats beside you and wait for their curiosity to get the better of them. Unlike chickens, ducks really don’t like big tall things looming over them. Don’t give up. Good luck. Mayo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubyismyduck Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 well i'm afraid i didn't know they had such good memory and i think they belive i'm the hunter. is there anything i can do to change their view of me, make sure i'm the good guy, but everyone says that they feed their ducks but mine dont take from me , but thanks mayo your advise does help and i hope you can reply agein to help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
an38 Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Hi, Ive only had mine two weeks and been away so have only really spent a few days with them one of our runners has been hand reared anyway so thats a bonus but ive found just sitting and talking to them and handing them food. Try sitting at a distance and throwing corn or there favorite treat then slowly throw it closer to you and when there close enough put your hand on the floor with the corn so they feel there eating off the floor not your hand. Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katycrunch Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Hi there I'm rather new to this duck keeping too. We got ours at 3 weeks old last June and they were very scared. This is probably going to sound daft, but I used to sit outside their pen and read to them! It got them used to me being around and also to my voice. Once I started finding them little slugs they'd come right up to the fence to get them and eventually they'd take them out of my hand. Now, whenever I'm out in the garden they come quacking up to me and take lettuce, which they love, from my hand. I spend a lot of time gardening too and they are always right there around my feet waiting for worms. They don't like to be touched or picked up though. It just takes patience and it'll probably take you longer if your ducks are older, but it's worth it. Good luck Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickles Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 hi we have ducks i find that when they are hungry, generally when the chooks have nicked all their food they come and find me. Vanilla makes lots of noise and actually follows me to the food bin, they generally will come and take some food from me then. Their fav is corn though. Chocolate will usually pick the bits up that vanilla has knocked from my hand. They also come over to me when its getting dark and ive moved their house and they cant work out where i have put it, they generally let me pick them up then. one thing i tried for a while was to catch one at a time just as they are about to leave their run and pick them up for a few minutes. They both like to be held slightly differently though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
