A bunch of stupid questions from a newbie

[1duckychick]

So, rather than posting a bunch of threads to show my stupidity I've decided to post all my ignorance in one place.

Lately my ducks have been doing some new/odd things and I can't figure out if it's normal "duck stuff" or if there's something wrong, OR if I my ducks are just whacked!

1- Sleeping standing up on one foot. They have started doing this a lot. All over, not in just one or two specific areas. Head tucked under the wing and all. Do all ducks do this? Is there a reason they do this (normal or otherwise)?

2-Mallards with terrets syndrome? My 2 mallards have been twitchy like pigeons. Repetetive tick ike behavior. They will bob their heads up and down or side to side or in a ground pecking motion for no apparent reason. Again...normal or issue and why?!?!

3-Feather eating. They're molting like crazy right now. The male rouen is making the switch to drake colors and the F&W runners are getting more fawn then white. Even the females are changing their overall tones. The weird thing is that they're eating some of their own feathers. Not plucking them out and eating them, they're eating the ones that are laying around and/or floating along their pool. I didn't think anything of it since these guys seem to (at least try to) eat everything they can get their bills on BUT my husband swears he read somewhere that feather eating is a sign of something bad healthwise. Any words of wisdom here?

I have a couple habitat questions too but I'll post those later b/c I want to attach pics for better perspective.

Thanks to any and all who can help us!

This site is a goldmine BTW! Don't know how'd I've had made it this far with my brood without it!

 

[Feathered Wings]

#1 "Perfectly normal" mine sleep standing on one foot head behind wing or on the ground head behind wing or in the pool with head behind wing.

#2 "Perfectly normal" Mine even do the thing like they are splashing in water.
Looks weird but it's normal

#3 Mine eat feathers that fall out never thought it was abnormal since my chickens, and turkeys eat them too.

Ducks have such great personality's mine do all sorts of things.
They get in the water dive under then jump out and circle the pool i just

 

[rainplace]

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Welcome to the boards! I'm new here too. It's amazing how much you can learn here. Everyday I learn something or somethings that helps me today with my flock or is filed away for helpful stuff to know later.

 

[1duckychick]

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Cool - feeling a little better. Either mine are normal or your's are just as "whacked out" as mine! TEEHEE

Seriously tho - Thanks for your help! You can never tell sometimes!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

The reason ducks sleep standing on one foot is because if they stood on NO feet they'd fall down!

The only stupid questions are the ones you do not ask.

 

[Feathered Wings]

 

[1duckychick]

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You see, THAT'S the kind of knowledge and experience I come here for!

 

[Wifezilla]

1. Normal
2. Normal (not sure exactly what is means but some ducks do it more than others...must be a flock status thing)
3. Can happen but can also be a sign of protein deficiency. Those feathers are made of protein and it takes a lot of protein to make a new set.

 

[Goat_Walker]

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Totally normal. PLEASE donthesite to ask ANYTHING no matter how dumb you think it sounds!! We are duck fanatics and we are here to help, dont feel shy about PMing me.


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Ive seen my drake do this some times so I guess its normal

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Perfectly normal, my girls do it all the time to eachother whne they feel prissy. I think it is a protective gesture.
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[goosedragon]

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i THINK that after you have ducks a few years you will notice that ducks stand and sleep on 1 leg when it is warm. if they sat on the ground they would get little air circulation to the bottom half, they stand on one leg but switch legs often when it is cold it keeps the feet warm.