This was so Helpful! I’m an animal services officer but have no formal duck or goose training and often have to go pick up we were ducks and geese. Great video thank you
I used to have a mallard drake who'd fly up and land on my forearm. I just held my arm out, tapped it twice and said "up" and he'd flutter up and perch there. He liked to ride on my shoulder too. I've found that some ducks also don't mind being carried like a football. Tuck them against your side, keep one hand underneath, and the other on their back. It's a little riskier with pooping, but if you time it right it's not a big deal.
Thanks for this video! I have some growing Welsh Harlequins that I want to be comfortable with being handled, but also worry I’m breaking trust every time I go for a pick-up.
Oh this made me laugh. Theres 2 ways ducks like to be picked up, one is not at all. I have 2 muscovies, 1 doesn't mind being picked up and likes approaching and being pet, the other tolerates being pet and ever time i try to perch him he's ungraceful starts "tipping" and uses jes wings to keep balance, nothing like being smacked in the face with duck wings while your neighbors are laughing.
When I do duck removals I grab em by the tail. The big drakes have to be held down on the ground until they get tired. Then I grab em by the wings like you do. Once I had a female land on my head and my friends got a good laugh as I wandered around with her there.
thank you so much,there is a big muscovy in the park,who limps walks slow,so i called rescue,and they asked is i could catch it,i hope so ,so they can go to a vet. thanks.
We didn't cover males in this video, they can be really big and aggressive. I would try hugging from above, around the belly, with both arms to keep his feet from tearing you up. Good luck!
Great advice! Thank you. Question: I have just got 3 females about 3 months old. They have not been handled much at all at their previous home and are very fearful of me. I had to clip their wings as I live in suburbia and have dogs on all sides so now they are really scared of me. Can you give me some advice on how to get them to be less fearful around me. I would love to be able to handle them but at least I want them to feel relaxed around me. Thank you! Faith :)
I would say make sure that water is easy for them to use/find...they tend to clean themselves well. If it's really bad, it's a tricky thing...try your best, don't force anything too firmly. Good luck!
Hi - I'm just about to attempt to trim my drake's claws - he's about a year old and as you say - some hate being handled - now that would make a great film as there really isn't much about on muscovies on you tube. Chicken claws, yes - easy as pie - but so far I have an old trouser leg to keep wings down and a hood made of cotton to keep him calm (or try) so will do the hood first before sliding over the cotton/lycra leg bit. Will let you know how it goes!
Went easier than expected. I put him into a small chicken house (Omlet Eglu) with the roosting bars removed and a lot of straw last night. Through the nest box door I was able to put my hand on his back and trim one leg at a time from behind. It was still dark-ish inside, so he was very good. He wasn't entirely happy about the ordeal - can't blame him at all - but really objected to the emery board, but his nails are now quite blunt - no injuries to either of us. I did stroke and talk to him and I didn't need the hood or leg tube. I've let him relax in there before I let them all out soon.
I would say handle as often as possible, lots of treats, make it positive for them and they'll get more and more used to it. Peas and corn are great treats!
@@dailydoseofshorts535 some of it is the breed, lots will just run away, and some of it is the individual duck and whether they mind...also how they were raised. Raise them by hand and they're usually friendly.
you make it look like it’s easy, my duck jumped on my arm and clawed me when I tried to catch it. those ducks must be more tame than mine
I don't know how I got here. I don't even have ducks. This guy is really likeable though, he seems like a nice person
This was so Helpful! I’m an animal services officer but have no formal duck or goose training and often have to go pick up we were ducks and geese. Great video thank you
I watched this video before saving a lost European Herring Gull young one and release to the river. Thanks!
I used to have a mallard drake who'd fly up and land on my forearm. I just held my arm out, tapped it twice and said "up" and he'd flutter up and perch there. He liked to ride on my shoulder too.
I've found that some ducks also don't mind being carried like a football. Tuck them against your side, keep one hand underneath, and the other on their back. It's a little riskier with pooping, but if you time it right it's not a big deal.
Thanks for this video! I have some growing Welsh Harlequins that I want to be comfortable with being handled, but also worry I’m breaking trust every time I go for a pick-up.
Oh this made me laugh. Theres 2 ways ducks like to be picked up, one is not at all. I have 2 muscovies, 1 doesn't mind being picked up and likes approaching and being pet, the other tolerates being pet and ever time i try to perch him he's ungraceful starts "tipping" and uses jes wings to keep balance, nothing like being smacked in the face with duck wings while your neighbors are laughing.
😂😂😂
thank you for the info im triming my ducks' claws and they arent real keen to be held
you should if they are safe but they normally use them to attack predators at night
I generally hold my duck like a football, although it is a Pekin and she doesn't have claws, lol
Thank you! But can you like put one hand under the duck and one on top?
When I do duck removals I grab em by the tail. The big drakes have to be held down on the ground until they get tired. Then I grab em by the wings like you do. Once I had a female land on my head and my friends got a good laugh as I wandered around with her there.
Duck removals huh. Yeah the HOA in Coles Crossing in Cypress TX had over 60 Muscovy ducks removed straight to the trash after being shot. 😡
Good Video!
thank you so much,there is a big muscovy in the park,who limps walks slow,so i called rescue,and they asked is i could catch it,i hope so ,so they can go to a vet. thanks.
We didn't cover males in this video, they can be really big and aggressive. I would try hugging from above, around the belly, with both arms to keep his feet from tearing you up. Good luck!
Great advice! Thank you. Question: I have just got 3 females about 3 months old. They have not been handled much at all at their previous home and are very fearful of me. I had to clip their wings as I live in suburbia and have dogs on all sides so now they are really scared of me. Can you give me some advice on how to get them to be less fearful around me. I would love to be able to handle them but at least I want them to feel relaxed around me. Thank you! Faith :)
Great idea; I'll make a video on 'taming' ducks :) Stay posted! In the meantime, lots of treats like peas, watermelon rind, mealworms, etc.
mine are to but i REALLY want them to like me.
i want to clean my ducks beak? any idea how to do it?
I would say make sure that water is easy for them to use/find...they tend to clean themselves well. If it's really bad, it's a tricky thing...try your best, don't force anything too firmly. Good luck!
Thought it was pretty funny when you said the black and white duck...lol which black and white one? 😅😂
Hi - I'm just about to attempt to trim my drake's claws - he's about a year old and as you say - some hate being handled - now that would make a great film as there really isn't much about on muscovies on you tube. Chicken claws, yes - easy as pie - but so far I have an old trouser leg to keep wings down and a hood made of cotton to keep him calm (or try) so will do the hood first before sliding over the cotton/lycra leg bit. Will let you know how it goes!
Went easier than expected. I put him into a small chicken house (Omlet Eglu) with the roosting bars removed and a lot of straw last night. Through the nest box door I was able to put my hand on his back and trim one leg at a time from behind. It was still dark-ish inside, so he was very good. He wasn't entirely happy about the ordeal - can't blame him at all - but really objected to the emery board, but his nails are now quite blunt - no injuries to either of us. I did stroke and talk to him and I didn't need the hood or leg tube. I've let him relax in there before I let them all out soon.
Ive never even thought of trimming their nails.
@@k.l.6780 He's the only one that I have done. I now just wear thick builders gloves and a leather coat!
Hello. What's the best way to handle a skittish young duck (four weeks)? Thanks!
I would say handle as often as possible, lots of treats, make it positive for them and they'll get more and more used to it. Peas and corn are great treats!
I have a few ducks who've never been picked up how do I get them not scared ?
Just work your way up to it and have plenty of peas on hand. Pet them a lot, hug them w/out lifting them up, then try some pickups.
I can hand feed them but they are skittish
@@dailydoseofshorts535 some of it is the breed, lots will just run away, and some of it is the individual duck and whether they mind...also how they were raised. Raise them by hand and they're usually friendly.
Mine was raised bay mama duck and idk the breed
My male duck was attacked by a cat I hope he makes it
Don’t squeeze their crop either (hits their belly on the front of their throat that gets big when they eat....)