getting ducks used to lead/harness?

[siobhan89]

I'v been taking my ducks over the park as out back garden space is limited but obviously dogs etc are a worry so i want to walk them with a harness and lead on. They are both around 5/6weeks old now. Does anyone have any tips on how to get them to walk on a lead? I put the harness on Charlie today and he hated it.(walking backwards, trying to peck it etc) they'll get used to it right?

 

[Marty1876]

Welcome to BYC!!! Oh yes, your ducks will get used to the harness. Be certain its light weight, and doesn't try to creep up under their feathers, they won't thank you for that problem. I suggest you give it time. Heres what you do.
1. Put the harness on for 30 min 3x a day for 2 days. (if they still can't ignore it, add on a day or two)
2. put the harness on for 1 hour 3x a day for 2-3 days (like step one, don't move on until they've adjusted again)
3. Put the harenss on for 2-3 hours 2x a day. (once a.m., later pm) don't move on until ducks are totally ok
with harness, and don't freak out even when your putting it on. This may take a few to several days.

4. Once ducks are ok with harness, get some favorite ducky treats (like kale leaves, or whatever you give them)
Put the lead on the harness and let the duck just hang out and relad for a few minutes, then offer the treat a
couple of steps in front of the duck. When he comes, let him have it. Do this a couple of times and then take the
lead off. This is classical conditioning. The duck does what you want, and you give it a postive (happy treat)
reinforcement of the act.

5. Contine doing the treat excercises, until the duck associatiates the harness with pleasent things. Now when you go out and clip on the harness for excersions, offer a treat. Offer another toward the end of the walk, and as needed in between to keep the duck(s) feeling postivie. Remember, ducks are a bit more flighty than chickens, so the training will take longer, but it will work out. Stay after it!

 

[Mum]

What sort of harness/lead??

 

[siobhan89]

Thank you

I will start the training tomorrow, just need to buy Lola a harness now.
BTW i love your avatar

 

[Marty1876]

Aw, thanks. I'm a duck girl. What kind of ducks do you have? What type of harness? I only know what to do cause a freind of mine had a pet duck, and I actually hung out with her during the duck training process. She also trained hers to go on papers in the corner of her room (most of the time). She worked out that they poo a lot when e
ating, so she'd feed her there, and leave her in the dog kennel on the papers until she went, then out she came. It really seemed as though the duck worked it out eventually, cause shed poo on pappers wherever she found them!

 

[siobhan89]

They are a cross between mallard and a black and white duck. I was thinking of posting a picture to see if anyone can tell me the breed. Lola looks just like a mallard but Charlie is like his mum.
It's a ferret harness we already had. It goes under the belly as well as over the back with 2 loops- 1 for neck (although that part is so loose it's pointless) and the other over the body, behind the wings). I'm going to ask at the pet shop about a bird specific one tomorrow as i'm not sure if this one is ok? It looks comfortable om him and not at all tight but i'd hate to think i'm hurting him.
Wow i can't believe she managed to toilet train them that's awesome!

I'll be cheating and buying duck diapers

 

[Marty1876]

She was a psych major. She was totally into the classical conditioning business. LOL

I think a ferret harness may work OK. I'd actually consider checking out BYC BUY-SELL-TRADE section, or run a search on "duck harness" and you might net some useful information there.

buy-sell-trade is located under the "FORUM" heading above, and the search is also very near the top of the page, and its a long white rectangle that actually has "search" listed as part of its description.

Good Luck!

 

[Marty1876]

black and white duck? sounds like an ancona.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

black and white could be anything from a mixed breed to magpie to ancona or a bibed variety.

 

[blondiebee181]

She was a psych major. She was totally into the classical conditioning business. LOL

I think a ferret harness may work OK. I'd actually consider checking out BYC BUY-SELL-TRADE section, or run a search on "duck harness" and you might net some useful information there.

buy-sell-trade is located under the "FORUM" heading above, and the search is also very near the top of the page, and its a long white rectangle that actually has "search" listed as part of its description.

Good Luck!

What sort of harness/lead??

Search for nettie on here, she makes harness/leads, duck diapers, and booties. She has a website now and the link is on her page here. She is the expert on house training ducks.