Fearful runner ducks don't go outside

[Jpat]

Ide be sitting with them every evening with a dish of thawed peas.

Ide sit right next to them no matter how much they hated it. Eventualy theyd atleast learn you have peas and your not going to hurt them

and ide toss them in a pool once a day. No duckie can resist a pool. even if they run back out the first 100 times

 

[CrystaBub]

I'm with Jpat - peas and maybe also meal worms. If they refuse those, then they aren't ducks LOL. it may take some time, but they should hopefully start to think of their pool as a safe place again. Just make sure they are protected.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can see why they are scared looks like they are off completely by themselves. How far for your house is their house. I know not everyone likes to have their poultry right next to their house [mine are] but they are such nervous things anyway. I am sure they feel very lost.
My Runners were hatched here and they still don't like for me to pick them up or get too close to them. It's just their nature. They do love to forage though and are very busy most days the only time I ever see them inside during the day is when the snow is deep They go up and down the hill behind our home probably close to 50 times a day. I doubt they could ever be too heavy here even though they eat really good. I have been able to get 1 Runner and 1 Buff to eat out of my hand the rest will come close but that is it. Now my Muscovies are totally different breed and personality more laid back and will all eat out of my hand. If anyone wants a Runner for a lap pet they are looking at the wrong breed and should go with Pekins. But for bug control you can beat Runners, just go on you tube and look up Runner videos working in orchards etc. rice paddies. I love mine for what they are they make me laugh and are just a joy and pleasure to have here.

Maybe doing some alterations like moving their house closer putting their pool closer to where they hang out daily spending time with them just sitting with them bringing thawed peas and dried meal worms might change things for the better. They really are the funniest ducks I have ever had.

 

[CrystaBub]

IThey really are the funniest ducks I have ever had.

Miss Lydia - you make me want to get another Runner LOL!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well? actually why not then you'll have 2 of each. I see you put Abby with Gabby and Jabby under your name how are they doing?

 

[CrystaBub]

Well? actually why not then you'll have 2 of each. I see you put Abby with Gabby and Jabby under your name how are they doing?

I just updated it this morning - Abby is stealing my heart! She's making so much improvement every day and follows right along with the rest of the crew. I definitely need another runner to balance the flock Hey when do we get to see pics of your ducks? I'm sure they are out there but I haven't seen them yet. Maybe you should start a new post with all your duck pics.

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/runner-duck-club.609642/page-260 @CrystaBub go here and you can see some of mine as babes. My other computer died on me with all the baby pics so these are the only ones I have here in this thread. post 2599

 

[darla.m]

I've tried going and sitting near them, if I reach over to put food close enough for them to realize what it is, they run away and hide somewhere else. If I sit next to them for a while without moving or getting too close (I have to REALLY creep up in slow-mo for them to not spook), they will eventually relax, but not come near me. They notice when they see my hands moving and coming near them even just to put food down, so I haven't had any sucess feeding them closeby, except when they're in their house, in which case they will eat with me there, but only if I've completely stopped moving.

I try to pick them up and put them in the pool, but I feel this just makes them bunker down and hide even more. Though today I saw they went in because the water was dirty, thankfully.

Unfortunately moving their house nearer to ours or anywhere for that matter is not really an option. I guess now that they're going back in the pool I don't have to worry as much about their health. Maybe I will move the second one that they don't use at all nearer to their camping spot. But as I asked before, will they gain more confidence once I have a few more adults that are calmer?

Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

They may because if they are older the younger ones will look up to them. That maybe your best plan.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

They were obviously traumatized by something give them time to come back around bu judging by your photo of your run they are easy pickings for a predator with all that cover for them to be snuck up on...