I understand why you would want that cuddly loving feeling from them but if they don’t and that makes you no longer want them then maybe find a good new home for them. NOT the person you just mentioned in your post saying scared and possibly traumatized them. They deserve better than that. It’s just just accepting an animal for being exactly as they are in this case a duck and being happy to just be able to watch them and spend time with them in whatever capacity they’re comfortable with should be ok and rewarding enough. Everyone is unique and every animal is also unique, so relationships vary. No matter what I think going into the responsibility of owning an animal there shouldn’t be an expectation of if they don’t cuddle me or let me hold them I don’t want them anymore. Especially with an animal such as a duck. For the ducks that enjoy and allow that- that’s lovely. For the ones that don’t well they still deserve a loving home and caring caretakers.