Around Easter (shocking I know), time I acquired to baby Pekin ducklings. Apparently a few of my buddies (ex-buddies) thought it would be a great April's fools joke to purchase them and put them in my bedroom while I was at work... NOT FUNNY AT ALL... Then when they said they were just going to just drop them off at the local pond; I had to step in! I have raised/bred show pigs all of my life, so I have a pretty good understanding on what baby animals need... And I know that sure as hell wouldn't work out to well for them... So of course I couldn't let them ditch these innocent ducklings! So I have been taking care of them since then, practically the same way as all of the ^above posts, heat lamps, proper food, plenty of water, safe bedding, etc. The one huge problem I am having with them thus far, is how skittish they are around people (including myself). Now I am a full-time student with a job, so I may not always be home, but I make sure that I go and check on them before I leave in the mornings and make sure to sit with them as soon as I get home everyday. Eventually they may lay down while I am around them, but as soon I move they are gone! This is becoming a huge issue because I know they need/would love to forage, enjoy the sunlight, and simply exercise, but two ducklings are QUICK and there's only one of me!!! There's just to much traffic, loose dogs, hawks, and tight places where I live to chance it. Everyone say's to feed them by hand, but they have a huge duck feeder that I always keep full! So when I go to work with them by hand feeding them (with their regular feed); I feel like they aren't even hungry so its pointless!?! When we use to have a skittish piglet, we could give them Vanilla Wafers and BOOM! Problem solved! They couldn't get enough of them and soon enough, you couldn't get them to leave you alone! So... In conclusion, I have two questions: 1) Is there anything else I can do to help them become a little bit more comfortable around me? Maybe some kind of a special treat that is safe for ducks that they like? A different method possibly??? 2) I'm guessing they were born some time around Easter. They are still yellow, but are slowly starting to show a slight white tint in color and their tail feathers are kind of spikey (well, lets just say different from the rest of their bodies) Any idea how old they may be? Or how much longer until they get their down feathers and turn completely white? Any advice is welcomed, Thank You

Most domestic ducks are quite simalar in temperment since they're derived from Mallards. The lighter weight breeds do seem to be a bit more skittish though. Since ducks are 'prey' they are naturally quite nervous birds especially if you don't train them to eat out of your hand, etc. (which is easy to do when they're hungry). They settle down as they get older too. All the females are quite loud. As 'cherrycircus' said, the males are chatty, probably more so than the females, but their voices are fairly quiet. My loudest duck is a female Silver Appleyard. She's also my favourite. She seems to have more character than the others. My tamest, quietest and smartest ducks are Muscovies. I don't have a problem with them because I only have females. A small group of males will usually get along quite well too. Problems and aggression (with males) arise when you have both sexes. If you want quiet and calm then female Muscovies are a good choice. A small group of Mallard-derived male ducks (especially one of the larger breeds) will also be reasonalby calm and quiet.

Found this - I guess they're not much of a fish eater... "What do mallards eat? Mallards are dabbling ducks, meaning that they do not dive underwater for their food, but feed at or just below the surface. They are well adapted to eating both natural and Âdomestic foods (such as waste grain from harvests). Most of their diet is made up of plants, such as wetland plants and grains (like wheat, barley, rice and oats). On occasion, mallards will eat animal foods. In coastal areas, mallards have been known to eat mussels. Mallards in other areas have also been observed eating insects and other invertebrates. Each spring, the female mallardÂs diet switches from plants to aquatic invertebrates found in wetlands. This diet provides her with the nutrition and energy she needs to lay and incubate a clutch of eggs. During the lead-up to the fall migration, mallards tend to take in more food. By building up a store of fat on their bodies, they have a ready supply of energy and are better able to survive the cooler temperatures and long migratory flights." Sounds like the fish will be ok, though I guess a tiny fry could be mistaken for ????????? S

Oh my goodness Connie. Well, this is all so interesting to me. I did some looking around on-line, and found some documentation of Wood Ducks evicting Screech Owls from their nestboxes and also of Screech Owl females incubating Wood Duck eggs! Whoda thunk?? I was surprised to read that the Screech Owls would even choose a box that was so low, but, then I don't know much about the nesting preferences of Owls. I did read that successful Screech Owl pairs will often return to the same nesting site each year, and that isn't good for you if you wanted nesting Wood Ducks. Maybe those darn Crows will leave the Ducks in peace, and they will go on to choose the other box for nesting. It isn't like the Crows need the box for nesting. I am interested in knowing about how this all plays out. Please keep us posted here???~~Angie Here is a link that might be useful: Screech Owl/Wood Duck nesting info