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[The Rabbits]

On Tuesday we acquired our first ducks - a lovely pair of Mandarins (drake & duck). They were hatched last Spring and have come from an environment with loads of various breeds of ducks, chickens & geese. They were used to human interaction from a retired couple that bred them for a hobby. We made a mistake by not completely having their 7ft x 9ft aviary ready. We bought them home with the intention of letting them loose in the garden which has a large fish pond, to get used to us and meanwhile finish their pond. The journey by car was about 1hr, when we opened the box they headed straight for the pond flapping away frantically (they are both pigeoned), they kept diving under the water and crept up under the decking around the pond. After a couple of hours they appeared again and jumped out of the pond, but whenever we approached them they flapped away. It was starting to get dark and were not able to usher them into the luxurious duck house we bought them and retreated under the decking again.We spent a sleepless night worring about them as we also have a cat with neighbouring cats. Next morning they were happily sitting outside the pond preening and we were quite relieved. Again once we approached them they dived in the water making them impossible to approach. We left them to it and finished their enclosure once and for all. Nearing dusk we tried to usher them but the Drake lept out under the log cabin and did not appear for 2 days.The duck we think scared and in shock was relatively easy to scoot into the secure pen. They are now both in their enclosure and have been together for 3 days now. We acquired some large logs for them to roost on as we now doubt they will use the house. They have a small pond of their own and fresh drinking water and pellets. Every time we approach them they get scared on tend to leap down into their pond for safety. They don't appear to be eating and have tried to tempt them with greens also. They sit on the log which is high up all day and there are no signs of improvement. We have also put a soft radio on in the ajoining garden shed to get more used to human voices, but not change. Our idea was only to shut them up in the aviary at night and to be in the garden during the day when we are around. Does anyone have pet mandarins that can offer any advice? They were not hand reared but will they eventually become tame or are we onto a lost cause. They are so lovely and do not want to give up on them but are thinking if there are no signs of improvement it may be best to return them as they are not happy at the moment, hate us and causing us a lot of concern. Any advise would be appreciated - thank you.

[Lesley]

I don't know anything about Mandarins but I would think that if you persevere then it will all work out.

[miller30]

Hi mandarins can be very nervous and are probably not a very good first time duck all you can do is leave them to settle in for a while and then try and tempt them with treats leanne.

[Guest]

Be patient as they dont know where to live...food will be the key also just let them get use to you being around.

 

If you let it get too dark ducks can be more temperamental about going to bed..herding springs to mind! If it gets too dark it can be quite hopeless. This is probably the thing that is difficult with ducks they dont go in to roost like chickens. More of the ornamental type ducks are harder to get in as well and are not usually as tame(although I have never kept this breed that is my understanding..same with call ducks etc).

 

Try rattling a pot of food(ie just use one feed pot that they will associate with food...

you may end up with this being put into their housing at night or leave a trail of food to get them to go in. I would keep trying to spend as much time around them.

 

As long as the fox etc cant get at them to find them preening themselves in your garden..they must quite like it. Sounds like you just need to build that friendship trust bridge but the ducks I kept didnt like being picked up and cuddled etc we could always get them tame to feed out of our hands but usually it was grab a duck if we needed to check one over..

 

good luck give it time am sure they will settle( I got mine to look at and they use to spend all day in the fields and lakes and come home when it was bedtime..friends use to come to see us and would often go home disappointed..I was just the duck landlady)!

 

indie

[bessandra]

Hiya

firstly, you are in the right place. I have a wealth of knowledge, gleaned from this forum.

Secondly, dont be disheartened. I bought 3 x khaki cambells at 3 days old and hand reared them. They were the most beautiful things..I was sooo in love (note to self: get out more!). Since the ducks went outside, they have been less friendly. To be honest, I was pretty gutted, I had visions of walking round with my babes, cuddling them and patting their podgy, soft tummies..how far from reality. They run away from me - like Indie says, its grab'em if you want to check one over - they do eat out my hand butt hey are very jealous when I'm in with the chooks, they hiss thru the wire! They are alot of fun to watch and I'm sure some ducks are really friendly and cuddly (just like some chooks, dogs, children ) but maybe yours arent up for all that jazz. They have a nice house, food, water...some creatures are shallow things with little consideration for our feelings.

I guess what I'm saying is, dont let their shyness put you off them. They are happy, of course they are, they have their basic needs met and they do what they are happy doing - swimming, drinking and eating.

Mine love tinned sweetcorn - try to 'build bridges' with something like that. Sooner or later, you will have 2 feathered friends who follow you around and call out for you, but dont want to be touched - and thats their call!#

Good luck

Rachel