If your duck is following your dog around, as though the dog is its mother, then the bird has likely imprinted on the dog and actually thinks that the dog is its mother.
Imprinting is fascinating, if you want to know more about this phenomenon then read on.
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Duck imprinting on dog:
Ducklings follow their mother around wherever she goes, this is not by accident. Duckling’s imprint on their mother once they hatch and become attached after imprinting.
Here is what you need to know when it comes to a duckling imprinting on a dog:
What is imprinting?
Imprinting is natures way of making sure that ducklings learn how to be a duck from a suitable animal.
Once a duckling hatches, the bird opens its eyes and imprints on the first moving object that it sees. The first moving object that the bird sees is usually its mother duck.
Ducklings don’t usually imprint on objects that are yellow as these yellow objects are usually their siblings.
A duckling is more sensitive to imprinting during the first 12-48 hours of its life. The imprinting window usually lasts about 2 weeks after hatching but it is strongest during the first 12-48 hours of the bird’s life.
Once the bird imprints, the bird will recognize whatever it imprinted on as its mother. The ducklings will think that it is the same species as what it imprinted on and will learn how to act and how to live by watching whatever it imprinted on
The duckling will also follow around whatever it imprinted on.
Once the bird has imprinted on its mother, or what it thinks is its mother, then the bird won’t imprint on anything else.
Can ducks imprint on dogs?
Yes, ducklings can imprint on dogs, these birds can imprint on any moving object, any moving object can include dogs, balls, toy trains, and whatever moving thing the bird sees once it hatches.
If your dog is imprinted on by a duckling, then the duckling will think that it is of the same species as the dog.
The duckling will follow the dog around, sleep close to the dog and try to be around the dog at all times because ducks don’t like to be alone
The duck will also be very friendly and sociable with the dog, and to dogs in general, because the duckling will think that it is a dog.
This bird will also look to the dog for a majority of its social interaction trying to interact with the dog throughout the day.
This bond is quite strong, the duckling will bond with the dog trusting it just as it would trust its own mother duck as the duckling thinks that the dog is its mother.
If the duckling that imprinted on a dog is separated from its dog “mother” then the bird may start to become stressed and develop negative health conditions
What to do if your duck imprints on a dog?
A duck that imprints on dog will find it more difficult to be a part of the flock as it doesn’t relate to other birds, this can be bad for the bird. Birds that live almost other birds, and not amongst dogs, do better overall
You can try to get the duckling used to its other flock mates by leaving the bird in the flock and keeping the dog away from it.
Make sure that you give the bird access to food and water while you leave it with the rest of its flock mates and make sure that the duckling is safe at all times during this time.
Start off by doing this for short periods of time and then extend how long you do this for over time.
If the duckling has not imprinted on the dog yet, then you’d need to try your best to make sure that the bird doesn’t imprint on the dog during hatching.
Keep your dog, and keep any other moving objects, and any other animals that aren’t the mother or sibling ducks, away from the hatching ducklings during the first day of the ducklings life.
How long does duck imprinting last?
Imprinting can last throughout the duckling’s life. Ducklings that grow into full-blown adult ducks will still show signs of imprinting even though they are adults.
The birds will also trust the dog for the rest of its life if the dog is imprinted on when the duckling hatches.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other duck related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Why Did My Duck Die?, Why Do Ducks Keep Coming To My House, Duck Imprinting On Humans, How To Tell That A Duck Is Stressed, Do Ducks Know If Their Eggs Are Fertile?, How To Get Ducks To Lay Eggs In Winter