My mother adopted two baby ducks after their mother was hit by a car. Around the same time, someone gave her a baby chicken, just a little bit older than the ducks. (She lives in the country). The ducks immediatly latched onto the chicken (which turned out to be a rooster). There are two small and one large pond by Mom's house and she wants the ducks to move from her yard to the ponds. However, the ducks are scared of the water (maybe since their mother never took them in?). They even throw a fit if you spray them with a water hose and won't go near the sprinklers in the yard. Is there anyway to get the ducks used to the water?
2006-06-19 16:02:26 · 4 answers · asked by yogazen 4 in Pets ➔ Birds
Wow.
Looks like they imprinted on that rooster!
Try throwing treats in shallow water, or into large water dishes (even a kiddie pool).
If they're tame at all, make it seem really "cool" to stand in water and get wet.
Act enthusiastic and pretend to be eating lots of good food.
... and if they just look at you like you're an idiot as they follow the rooster back to the garden...
... then they're probably hopelessly roosters trapped in ducks bodies.
2006-06-19 20:17:59 · answer #1 · answered by Jessie 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Ducks bond with and mimic their "mother" - in this case, the rooster. If the rooster won't swim, then the baby ducks won't want to either. I'd take the baby ducks to a bird rescue agency.
2006-06-19 16:07:20 · answer #2 · answered by emitabit 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start small; perhaps put a very small child's wading pool in the area where they are now. Perhaps they are intimidated by the big pond. You have a MOST unusual problem, for sure. Perhaps if you could borrow an adult, water-loving duck from a friend...?
2006-06-19 21:08:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I helped a friend of mine that has a from to raise a duck. I use to fill my bathtub for them so that they could get use to the water. When he was a baby, I would stand in the tub with him so he knew it was ok. I made the water just deep enough for him to get wet. As he got use to the water, I raised the water level until he realized that he could swim. Your mom could probably do this in a kiddie pool if she doesn't want them in her tub. It use to drive my husband nuts when he would go to take a shower and the duck was in there for his exercise.
2006-06-19 16:27:27 · answer #4 · answered by JAAT 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋