Confused Buff hens?

[JFreeman]

I have a small flock of five ducks I bought sexed from McMurray Hatchery in February. Two Buff hens, two Khaki Campbell hens, and a KC drake. These guys aren't my first group of ducks, so I know what to look for when sexing them. Firstly, my KCs started laying last week. Today, I went out and watched the two Buffs mounting the KC hens, and pressing their vents in a mating position, like what drakes do to penetrate the hens. The Buffs are for sure hens. They quack, there is no drake feather on either one, and they have the color pattern of the hens, not drakes... What is going on? Is this just their way of establishing a pecking order, or do I have butch hens?

 

[pattyhen]

I'm sure someone else can help you with this. I have had ducks for several years now and I have never saw a female mount a female duck. I have seen my chickens do this occassionally. Most of the time when the female ducks are trying to establish pecking order I will see them bump chests. Good luck with this I hope you find your answer.


Patty

 

[CalBells]

I have only females and they all take turns mounting each other. They do the tail tuck like what you describe too. I've heard from a number of others that theirs do the same. I believe it's normal duck behavior and it certainly doesn't affect their laying or anything like that. It could be pecking order, or just hormones. Mine will sometimes make a stack three ducks high! They are ridiculous! Perhaps they would be happier with a drake, but I just don't have the space for a duck that doesn't lay.

 

[JFreeman]

Thank you! I'm so glad it could be construed as normal. Even with my KC drake in the pool with them, they were still gettting it on. I doubt you need a drake. I already have two too many drakes. My Muscovy drake prefers his own, it seems, but my Pekin and KC share the other seven. I see dinner in my future.