How do I get my ducks to like me more?

[Wizabelle]

Hi all! When I got my ducks I didn’t want them to imprint as I thought I had school (coronavirus lockdown 1) but the lockdown extended so I could’ve imprinted them however by that time they weren’t. Which I’m completely fine with as they still came up to me and let me pet them. However recently it has changed, they still follow me around and recognise me and will run up if food is seen but I can’t touch them anymore and they are not acting normal. In the Uk at the moment all poultry is in lockdown (since November 2021) so they haven’t been able to go about like before and I’ve had to minimise physical contact with them because it’s illegal to have them out in the garden but they hate having people sit in their coop. My mum recently extended their run and ever since they’ve been even more freaked out, and are now afraid of my hands/me eventhough I’m still their favourite. They manage to escape a lot but they act like normal once outside freely, I don’t know if it’s because it’s an enclosed space as they’re fine if I sit there but they don’t like it when I move or if it’s something else. They also suddenly act like they don’t know how to go back inside the fenced off area so I have to herd them back in and I’m wondering if that’s also effecting them. I just feel sad because other duck owners are so close with their ducks and make it look so easy whilst mine I feel are getting more scared of me since adding space which I thought would help them sorry for the long post!

 

[Callender Girl]

I have hand-raised every one of my runner ducks. All will eat from my hand, none wants to be held and all will generally walk -- or run -- away from me if it appears I want to be more social than they do.

I understand how you feel when you read about others whose ducks seem to really like their people. I've decided it's kind of like having cats. I've had a couple who craved human companionship, hopped onto my lap and purred furiously -- and a few who tolerated me for as brief a time as possible and only because I've fed them. To me, it's just personalities.

As your ducks get older, their reactions to you might change. Now that my youngest runners are a couple of years old, they are much less likely to act as if I am constantly trying to murder them. But, they still aren't the cuddly ducks you and I would like.

Maybe the extra spaced isn't really making them more scared; they're just enjoying the additional freedom and resent being made to go inside their area. When you herd them inside, have you tried tossing a wee treat inside first? When I yell, "duck, duck, house, house," mine know there will be a reward for parading into the shelter. Grapes or frozen peas are great motivators for mine.

Good luck with your duckies!

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are just acting like ducks. I have 5 Muscovy who I have had since 2011 the only one I can touch is my Drake and it's only because I became his mama when she decided killing him was better than raising him, so he became mine and since he was an only child he looked to me as his mama and flock Until he got sexually mature then I had to go get him some girls of his own so he would quit wanting to mate with me, Now he and his females are going on 11 yrs old and he is still the only one I can touch and love on. My Runners, they haven't any time for cuddles way too busy. So wait it out with them. Spending as much time as you can with them just sitting. Every evening [when weather permits] I sit out with mine just watching them they come around and they are extremely happy when I have treats and most will eat out of my hand but they don't want to be touched. Herding is what many of us use to get our ducklings /ducks /chickens and geese inside go slow and offer a treat once in. They all love their lives to be always the same so if you reward them for going in they will pick up on it fast and be waiting for their reward. lol

 

[IvysAnimals]

Most ducks are usually skiddish and don't usually like to be pet when they get older. However, to re-bond with them, just try to hand feed them or put the food closer to you so they get used to being closer. If you every want to go see them, don't make loud or sudden movements or tower over them as that makes them feel scared. If you have to put them in a certain spot, don't scare them or pick them up into there, carefully and slowly lead them into there by having your hands out and slowly guiding them towards that spot. Ducks may never be 100% comfortable again anymore or they might be more loving than ever. My ducks used to be terrified of me but food works their way to their heart! I started to give them food from my hand and closer to me and some started to be comfortable while others eventually started to realize that I wasn't a threat. If you do try and hand feed them, just make sure that you get lower and try to mimic being their size so they don't see you as a big scary monster. I hope all goes well!

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

Hi all! When I got my ducks I didn’t want them to imprint as I thought I had school (coronavirus lockdown 1) but the lockdown extended so I could’ve imprinted them however by that time they weren’t. Which I’m completely fine with as they still came up to me and let me pet them. However recently it has changed, they still follow me around and recognise me and will run up if food is seen but I can’t touch them anymore and they are not acting normal. In the Uk at the moment all poultry is in lockdown (since November 2021) so they haven’t been able to go about like before and I’ve had to minimise physical contact with them because it’s illegal to have them out in the garden but they hate having people sit in their coop. My mum recently extended their run and ever since they’ve been even more freaked out, and are now afraid of my hands/me eventhough I’m still their favourite. They manage to escape a lot but they act like normal once outside freely, I don’t know if it’s because it’s an enclosed space as they’re fine if I sit there but they don’t like it when I move or if it’s something else. They also suddenly act like they don’t know how to go back inside the fenced off area so I have to herd them back in and I’m wondering if that’s also effecting them. I just feel sad because other duck owners are so close with their ducks and make it look so easy whilst mine I feel are getting more scared of me since adding space which I thought would help them sorry for the long post!

What breeds are they?
I have pekins, cayugas, blue swedish and a khaki Campbell.
My pekins are more tolerant of my presence and so is the khaki I feel like the cayugas and the blue swedish are a whole lot more skiddish though, but around evening/sundown they all don't really mind me touching them especially the pekins and the khaki, one of the blue Swedes.
I agree with what everyone else said, and that is basically what I did and still do to keep mine okay with my presence.
Even just being outside and doing things not involving the ducks can help get them more comfortable with you (I've noticed with my ducks anyways).

I like talking to my ducks and I find myself copying their body language (an attempt to make them like me, more but I don't think it works).
When my four younger ducks were ducklings they stayed inside the house until they were big enough to go outside, I would cuddle them and my pekin would sleep on my chest or cuddle into my armpit if I lay on the floor next to her, I miss those days.

I hope you are able to get yours to be more comfortable with you, I know how disheartening it can be to know they don't particularly want to be with you, but I think with a little treats and spending some time with them they'll warm up to you a lot more, good luck!

 

[ben-marko]

I hand-raised my KC ducks from ducklings, too. But they would rather behave like lemmings and act like I'm coming to eat them. Oh well.