Do Ducks Bite to Show Affection?

My ducks started biting around 3 weeks old. I remember the first time Choco bit me I was feeding him mealworms and he accidentally bit my finger then immediately backed away like he knew he did something wrong.

Now that they are older, theyre not just biting me by accident anymore. When I try to give them a fresh worm from my garden they will bite every place on my hand except where the worm is...No way their beak-eye coordination is that bad! Lol They also bite my hands when I open their coop or refill their water, bite at my feet and ankles, peck at my legs, and one got on my lap and bit me on the face.

The bites vary in degree. Sometimes its just a little nibble that tickles, and sometimes it's hard enough to be unpleasant but doesn't necessarily hurt. Is this just their way of communicating or showing affection kind of like how a dog licks?

EDIT: I hand raised them from 2 days old. They eat out of my hand and occasionally let me pet them, so I'm pretty sure theyre not biting because they hate me and I dont sense any aggression. Just curious why they bite and if it's normal.

I'm sure the duck peeps will give you specific advice, but i would generally be cautious when considering the emotional makeup of humans to that most other organisms.

Cheers
CT

CTKen said:

I'm sure the duck peeps will give you specific advice, but i would generally be cautious when considering the emotional makeup of humans to that most other organisms. 

Cheers
CT

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I'm sorry, I don't understand what you wrote.

Little Byrd said:

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you wrote.

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Sorry, what i am suggesting is that i would very much doubt that ducks share our emotions, so terms such as affection etc are not really appropriate.

CT

Ducks do seem to have what I would consider emotions - and as with us humans, a bit of it is hormone-influenced.

Sounds like these are drakes (boys).

Drakes do flirt with ducks by biting on them, and actually if they can get a bill full of feathers, then sometimes use that grip to hold the duck while they climb on top.

Ducks can seem to treat others, regardless of the species, as other ducks. So they may be feeling - shall we say - romantically inclined toward you. It's not the worst thing, in my opinion. You just need to be careful not to get hurt.

Amiga said:

Sounds like these are drakes (boys).

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I have 2 males, 2 females and they all do this except my oldest male, Choco.