We have four Pekin ducks about 8+ weeks old. Three drakes and a duck. After the brooder, we moved them to a section of our chicken run. I went out there almost every day to give them and the chickens scratch, fruit, earthworms, etc.
The ducks as a whole are wary but 3 out of the 4 will eat out of my hand once they see I have nummy things. Sometimes they ignore me, but sometimes they are right up in my business, eating out of my hand, pecking at my boots, tugging on my dress. They don't like to be petted and will shy away, but not freak out.
Ok, so today we decided to move them to the big pond. We herded them out of the run, around to the pond. They took a swim, then promptly followed us back to the run.
So a little later we reherded them to the pond and i sat on the grass by them. They swam and them came out into the grass, sort of hung out about 3 ft from me and generally seemed to appreciate I was there--they did not want to wander too far. In fact, this was as close as they voluntarily have ever stayed by me (unless I was actively feeding them treats). Usually they get treats then run off. This time, they kept staying very close, even if they walked around a bit.
The Boy brought a banana for me to feed them and, like normal, they were gobbling it up, sometimes taking it from my offered hand.
Then the duck, for some reason, decided to lower her head and body and sort of sidle/slither up my extended leg (I was sitting on the grass). It startled me and I shooed her away gently. The drakes were sort of snoozing, did not care what she was doing, nor what i was doing. Then she laid down too and rested a bit. Then she got up again, I tossed some banana to her, then a minute or two later she stared right at my eyes and ran up to me again--no biting, no hissing, no flapping, just head and body down low to the ground and almost tried to climb into my lap. Again, I was not sure what she was doing, if this was an escalation, so I moved her away and she settled back down and started grooming and resting, etc.
Both times the drakes did not seem agitated or even care what she did. She is the bossy boots of the whole little flock, but she is not the boldest (ie, the first to eat out of my hand). I am confused because she keeps settling down like nothing at all is happening.
Was this aggressive behavior? Was she excited about the food and just tried to get up close? Was she actually trying to snuggle a bit (since they all seemed, at least in this instance, to be reassured by my being there)?
Any ideas what I should do or not do? I don't mind a snuggle but really do not want to be getting in a sitting quarrel with a duck. Thanks!
The ducks as a whole are wary but 3 out of the 4 will eat out of my hand once they see I have nummy things. Sometimes they ignore me, but sometimes they are right up in my business, eating out of my hand, pecking at my boots, tugging on my dress. They don't like to be petted and will shy away, but not freak out.
Ok, so today we decided to move them to the big pond. We herded them out of the run, around to the pond. They took a swim, then promptly followed us back to the run.
So a little later we reherded them to the pond and i sat on the grass by them. They swam and them came out into the grass, sort of hung out about 3 ft from me and generally seemed to appreciate I was there--they did not want to wander too far. In fact, this was as close as they voluntarily have ever stayed by me (unless I was actively feeding them treats). Usually they get treats then run off. This time, they kept staying very close, even if they walked around a bit.
The Boy brought a banana for me to feed them and, like normal, they were gobbling it up, sometimes taking it from my offered hand.
Then the duck, for some reason, decided to lower her head and body and sort of sidle/slither up my extended leg (I was sitting on the grass). It startled me and I shooed her away gently. The drakes were sort of snoozing, did not care what she was doing, nor what i was doing. Then she laid down too and rested a bit. Then she got up again, I tossed some banana to her, then a minute or two later she stared right at my eyes and ran up to me again--no biting, no hissing, no flapping, just head and body down low to the ground and almost tried to climb into my lap. Again, I was not sure what she was doing, if this was an escalation, so I moved her away and she settled back down and started grooming and resting, etc.
Both times the drakes did not seem agitated or even care what she did. She is the bossy boots of the whole little flock, but she is not the boldest (ie, the first to eat out of my hand). I am confused because she keeps settling down like nothing at all is happening.
Was this aggressive behavior? Was she excited about the food and just tried to get up close? Was she actually trying to snuggle a bit (since they all seemed, at least in this instance, to be reassured by my being there)?
Any ideas what I should do or not do? I don't mind a snuggle but really do not want to be getting in a sitting quarrel with a duck. Thanks!
It seemed more like a low fast crawl up to me 
