Unfriendly ducks...

[InsaneDucks]

Do anyone elses ducks hate them? My 2 Cherry Valley's will run away at the sight of me whereas my chickens come running over to me and love being chatted to and given treats.
I try and give them lots of space and just go in their run to feed them, clean them out and change their bathing water. They are happy enough when they dont realise Im watching them, quacking and swimming and eating lots but the moment they catch me spying (say from a window upstairs in my house that overlooks their run) they run back to their house!
Haha, I think they're just mental really.
Also no eggs from them yet- they're about 20w old I think, maybe just under. We've had them nearly 8weeks now
Normal or insane?
Thanks

 

[chrismahon]

They will only lay when they feel secure and they are too young I think to lay yet. What does the breeder you got them from say ID? They do sound rather timid.

 

[Chuck]

If I'm not mistaken, it's a breed/type that is usually commercially reared (just been reading my little book) and if so will not be used to close contact with people. I'd be glad to have them run in the house as I have to round mine up to get them in for the night. They will still be settling in and finding their confidence.
They should lay soon I would have thought, though it might be a few more weeks.

Can't add any more and probably shouldn't have written this as what I know about ducks you could write on the back of a postage stamp.

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hiya
Ahh yes Cherry Valleys are very suspicious! Most duckies are, I hand reared mine from a few days old and they still hate me! You can bribe them though... tomato works wonders with mine, they will almost tolerate being touched for tomato!
One of my Cherry Valleys didn't start laying until she was 6 months old.... this is a good thing, a more natural laying cycle, as they can have problems with peritonitis being bred to lay.
PM me if you have any probs, duck behaviour is kindof my thing
zo
x

 

[InsaneDucks]

Thanks for the advice. Zo I will try tomatoes!
Good news is I went out today and discovered chicken eggs in their usual nesting box and a rather large white chicken egg next to the 2 usual little brown eggs. It wasnt until I came in from the rain and woke up a bit before I realised it must be a duck egg! I am so excited (eggcited).
They still ran away though. sigh. I shall persist!