breeding your Golden 300 HyLayer hen with a different duck breed will greatly reduce the risk of defects. different duck breeds tend to have different genetic defects specific to that breed so it is less likely that your Golden 300 HyLayer hen carries the same genetic defect as, say a kampbell...
i got my 3 pekin ducks at 2 weeks old and at first they were super scared but after picking them up daily for a few weeks they have gotten used to me. they love getting sprayed with the hose on a hot day.