This resource was fully reviewed and updatedA member of The Open Sanctuary Project’s staff has given this resource a full review and provided updates where necessary. by a member of The Open Sanctuary Project as of June 29, 2026. It was originally published on March 7, 2018.

What Do We Mean By “Gentle” Restraint?
In agricultural settings, restraint may focus primarily on human convenience and task efficiency, but in sanctuary spaces, the focus should always be on resident comfort and well-being as well as on the safety of both the humans and the residents involved. We use the descriptor “gentle” to emphasize that restraint should not be domineering or unnecessarily forceful and should not cause pain. While restraint may be stressful for some individuals, the goal should always be to find ways to keep residents at ease. That said, please do not misinterpret “gentle handling” to mean that you cannot hold a resident firmly. While it’s obviously important not to be rough or to hold someone so tightly you restrict their breathing or cause them pain, holding them too loosely could actually result in injury to yourself or the resident. We’ll talk more about this below.

If you’re caring for ducksUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated duck breeds, not wild ducks, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource., you must know how to gently handle and restrain them. Gentle handling and restraint can be necessary for a variety of care-related tasks, but it should always be approached thoughtfully. Situations that may require gentle handling and restraint include performing health checks, closely evaluating an individual showing signs of concern, administering medications, or responding to an emergency. 

Some ducks are more tolerant of restraint and handling than others. While some of this may come down to individual personalities and preferences, an individual’s size, health, and socialization also factor in. You may find that some residents require modifications to your typical handling and restraint technique to ensure their comfort and safety.

Find Ways To Make It Positive!
As you work with your residents, be sure to find ways to make handling and restraint a positive (or at least neutral) experience. Consider giving them a small, duck-appropriate treat after handling so they have a positive memory to associate with the experience.

The Approach

Before you can restrain a duckUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated duck breeds, not wild ducks, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource. resident, you must be able to get close enough to touch them. Depending on the individual and the circumstances, this may or may not be an easy task. Some residents may come over to you on their own (especially if enticed with the prospect of loving pets or a few tasty treats), and others may be comfortable with you approaching them. However, some residents may prefer to keep their distance from humans, in which case you’ll need to approach them thoughtfully. When approaching a duck, do not chase them! Ducks are prey animals, and chasing them is going to stress them out. Not only this, but residents will remember a negative experience, which could make them more fearful or agitated when faced with a similar situation, potentially making it harder to approach and restrain them in the future. 

If you need to approach a duck resident who prefers to keep their distance (and therefore moves away from you when you approach them), you’ll need to use elements of the space to calmly corner them. If you are attempting to do this in a large, wide-open space, you may need to get another person (or a few other people) to help you. Generally speaking, if you can first guide them into a smaller, more contained space, it will be easier to approach them. For example, if they are in a large outdoor space and their indoor space is smaller, you might start by encouraging them to go inside. Encouraging one individual to move where you want them to go is usually more difficult than encouraging a group to do so. Therefore, you’ll typically need to encourage the entire flock, or at least part of the flock, to move indoors rather than trying to get just one resident to do so. If residents have access to a pond, you might want to block it off, if you can, to prevent them from accessing it while you are trying to encourage them to move. Depending on the size of the pond, it can be quite tricky to encourage a duck resident to get out of the pond if they don’t want to! 

Plan Ahead
If you know you’ll need to approach and restrain someone, it’s helpful to plan ahead. For example, if you know one of your duck residents needs medication each day, planning to administer it before they are let outside in the morning and/or after they are closed in for bed can make it easier if their outdoor space is large or if they have access to a swimming pond. This way, they will already be in a more confined space, and you won’t have to take the time to guide them back indoors. Not only can this make your life easier and make things take less time, but it will also be less disruptive to the individual.

Ducks are startled by sudden movements and loud noises, so when encouraging them to move, you’ll want to move slowly and calmly and avoid loud sounds like shouting. Crouching down and extending your arms out to the sides while walking behind them and guiding them in the direction you want them to go can encourage them to move where you need them to. The more people you have helping, the easier it is. If you don’t have a helper, using elements of the living spaceThe indoor or outdoor area where an animal resident lives, eats, and rests. to help guide them (such as walking them along a fence line rather than through the middle of an outdoor space) can sometimes make things easier. Ultimately, you want to guide them into a corner or other confined space so that you can calmly approach them without them moving away from you. You’ll see an example of approaching and picking up a duck in the video below.

Gentle Handling And Restraint Options

Hands-On Training Is Highly Recommended
If at all possible, you should receive hands-on training by an experienced caregiverSomeone who provides daily care, specifically for animal residents at an animal sanctuary, shelter, or rescue. or veterinarian (though some veterinarians may have been taught to restrain ducks in a way that is not aligned with a sanctuary’s philosophy of care). Improper technique can not only lead to undue stress and injuries to duck residents, but it can also make it difficult for them to breathe. Ducks rely on some degree of movement of the sternum and rib cage to breathe properly, so holding them too tightly or otherwise restricting this movement can result in suffocation. Working with a compassionate care expert will not only allow you to see how it’s done, but it will also allow you to try to restrain a duck while receiving feedback and tips on how to make things go more smoothly.

Once you can get close enough to the duck to touch them without them running away, place each hand on either side of their body near the top of their wings. Hold them so that their wings are held firmly against their body, which will prevent them from flapping and hurting themselves (or you). From this position, you have a few options, and different techniques will work better in different situations depending on factors such as the purpose of restraint, resident health and preference, caregiver capability and preference, and how many humans are on hand to assist. In general, it’s a good idea to be comfortable using a few different restraint options. This way, you’ll be able to use the most appropriate option based on the circumstances. When considering which restraint option will be best in any given situation, it can be helpful to consider the following:

• How much restraint is necessary to safely perform the task at hand? 
• Do I know which form of restraint this individual is usually most comfortable with?
• Does this individual have health issues that make certain restraint options inadvisable?
• What would be the least stressful form of restraint in this situation? (Consider the individual, the task at hand, etc.)

As you may have guessed from these questions, the most appropriate form of restraint for one resident may not be the best one for another. Additionally, even when considering restraint for the same individual, what is most appropriate when performing one task may not be best in a different situation. For example, you may opt for a restraint method that keeps the individual standing on the ground when administering medications, but you may find it’s easier to have them in your lap if you need to bandage that same resident’s foot.

Also Factor In Your Comfort
While it’s imperative to prioritize resident safety and comfort, you should also consider your own comfort. Some duck residents may be a bit bitey when restrained, and depending on how they are being held, you may have sensitive areas within their reach. When restraining a resident who tends to bite, it may be helpful to have a helper so one person can use both hands to restrain them while another person performs any necessary health care tasks. This can allow the person holding them to hold them in a way that prevents (or at least reduces the risk) of being bitten. For example, the holder may restrain them with both hands around their body and hold the resident so they are facing away from them, creating additional distance between their body and the individual’s beak. Other options to consider are wearing a thick, long-sleeved shirt to protect your arms and work gloves to protect your hands. Pants can also come in handy and can protect your legs from being scratched by a resident’s nails when restraining them in your lap.

Up next, we’ll discuss a few different restraint methods that can be helpful to learn when working with ducks. 

Picking Up And Setting Down A Duck

To pick up a duck, you want to keep both hands firmly over their wings, holding them against their body. The purpose of having your hands over their wings is to prevent them from flapping their wings, which could result in wing injury (and with larger ducks, you could get hurt as well). With most ducks, you should be able to position your hands so that they are holding the duck’s wings against their body while also having a firm grip on their body. Never pick a duck up by their wings! When you are certain you have a good hold on the individual and can keep their wings safely contained, you can then lift them off the ground. After picking them up, you can utilize one of the restraint methods described below, if needed.

Play

When setting a resident down, always make sure their feet are firmly on the ground before letting go of them. Never let a duck resident jump from your arms or lap, and never drop them because this can lead to serious injury.

Holding A Duck In Your Arms

To hold a duck in your arms, which may be necessary to carry them to a new location or to restrain them for certain care tasks, bring the duck towards you and hold one side firmly against your body. While you may opt to hold them against the front of your body in certain situations, it may be more comfortable for both of you if you hold them against the side of your body (see image above), wrapping your arm around them so your hand is under their sternum. The arm holding them will create a secure little nook and, in most cases, will free up your other hand. This is a great position for carrying a duck or holding a duck while someone else performs certain care tasks (such as checking their head or administering eye drops or an oral medication), but it may not be ideal for health tasks that require access to other parts of their body. If you need to restrain them while someone checks their keel or feet, for example, you may need to hold them against the front of your body or restrain them in your lap, as described below. 

When holding a smaller individual against the front of your body, you should be able to use your thumb to keep the wing facing away from you held firmly against their body and extend the rest of your hand underneath them to support their weight. If this is not possible, you can use one hand to hold them against your body and place your other hand underneath them to help support their weight. Some individuals will do fine with their legs free, but others may paddle their legs incessantly and do better if you either place one hand under their feet to give them some support or opt for a different restraint method (such as placing them in your lap). 

When holding a duck, be prepared to put them down if they start to struggle or if they get a wing free. This will prevent them from injuring their wing or jumping away from you, which can also result in injury. Additionally, be sure to pay attention to the individual’s breathing and general demeanor. Individuals with certain health challenges may show signs of respiratory distress (open-mouth breathing, cyanosis) when lifted off the ground and held in the ways described above. For these individuals, you will need to find a different way to restrain them, such as having them upright in your lap or gently restrained while they remain standing on the ground.

Holding A Duck In Your Lap

Another restraint method that can come in handy is holding the individual in your lap. This is especially helpful if you need both your hands free (such as when trimming their nails). Similar to what is described above, when you lift them into your lap, you want to make sure their wings are held firmly against their body to prevent injury. While it’s possible to have the individual stand on your legs while you hold their wings against their body, other positioning will allow you to have one or both hands free and may do a better job of keeping them secure. One option is to lie them on your lap so their sternum is on your thighs. This will allow them to remain upright and may be best for larger individuals or those with health challenges that make them less tolerant of restraint. Some individuals will tolerate this position just fine, but others may kick their legs, trying to get them underneath them so they can stand. If this is the case, another restraint option may be best. If they are okay with being tilted on their side, you can rotate them slightly when holding them in your lap (as shown in the image above). Always watch for signs of respiratory distress and set them down if noted.

Can You Place A Duck On Their Back?
We don’t recommend placing a duck on their back for a few reasons. First, some individuals, particularly larger individuals and those with certain health challenges, may struggle to breathe in this position. Additionally, as prey animals, this is a very vulnerable position for them to be in, so is likely to cause them distress, even if they appear to be calm.

Standing Restraint

For situations that do not require much restraint or where you have two people involved and one can focus solely on restraint, you might opt to restrain the resident while they remain standing. While this method may not always be appropriate, it can often be the least stressful way to restrain certain individuals and may be best for larger individuals (such as Muscovy drakes or those who are less tolerant of restraint). To restrain an individual while they remain standing on the ground, you can kneel next to them and hold them in place with your hands firmly over their wings and body, or pull them against your body and restrain them with one arm while their feet remain firmly on the ground.

Restraint Methods To Avoid
You should never restrain a duck resident by their wings, legs, neck, or feathers. While an individual may not appreciate being restrained using the methods described above, when done properly, these methods should not cause any pain and should not result in injury to the individual. (That said, certain health conditions could make a particular restraint method inappropriate for a particular resident, so be sure to always consider what each individual needs.) Restraining an individual by their wings, legs, neck, or feathers will not only cause them undue stress, but it also puts them at risk of injury. Because of this, these restraint methods are unacceptable. At The Open Sanctuary Project, unacceptable means that we cannot condone (or condone through omission) a certain practice, standard, or policy. See a more detailed explanation here.

SOURCE:

Avian Respiratory System | University Of Kentucky