Do all drakes make this noise?

[chickens really]

I wonder if you might answer a question for me - when a drake breeds the lower ranking duck (Aurora) the alpha female (Midnight) holds onto Auroras neck feathers along with the drake, then when he's done mating her, Midnight let's go and she and Aurora chatter happily while doing their own little celebratory swim and dance together and seem very happy together. There appears to be no sign of aggression or nastiness and Aurora seems perfectly fine with Midnight doing so and I'm just wondering why midnight holds her. Would very much appreciate your thoughts on this?

The other Hens get excited. Sometimes I have Duck sandwiches in my pools. It's normal sexual behaviour.

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

I wonder if you might answer a question for me - when a drake breeds the lower ranking duck (Aurora) the alpha female (Midnight) holds onto Auroras neck feathers along with the drake, then when he's done mating her, Midnight let's go and she and Aurora chatter happily while doing their own little celebratory swim and dance together and seem very happy together. There appears to be no sign of aggression or nastiness and Aurora seems perfectly fine with Midnight doing so and I'm just wondering why midnight holds her. Would very much appreciate your thoughts on this?

I've seen my Xena do that to Luna. Only I think Luna is the dominant and Xena is not. Xena is a Rouen. Luna is my little Mallard. Luna seemed to become more sexually receptive before Xena. But Xena had some serious health problems when she was young so her being slower didn't surprise me. I took it as a "I want to join, look here I will help" type of thing. I don't know. She doesn't do it all the time. This is my first time owning ducks so it is all new to me. I'm learning as I go along.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The other Hens get excited. Sometimes I have Duck sandwiches in my pools. It's normal sexual behaviour.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

The other Hens get excited. Sometimes I have Duck sandwiches in my pools. It's normal sexual behaviour.

Duck sandwiches
Thank you for putting my mind at rest

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I've seen my Xena do that to Luna. Only I think Luna is the dominant and Xena is not. Xena is a Rouen. Luna is my little Mallard. Luna seemed to become more sexually receptive before Xena. But Xena had some serious health problems when she was young so her being slower didn't surprise me. I took it as a "I want to join, look here I will help" type of thing. I don't know. She doesn't do it all the time. This is my first time owning ducks so it is all new to me. I'm learning as I go along.

Same here, my first time having ducks and chickens. Certainly lots to learn and I have learned loads already. BYC members have helped me no end, would have been a lot harder to learn without these lovely people sharing their knowledge and experience

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The other Hens get excited. Sometimes I have Duck sandwiches in my pools. It's normal sexual behaviour.

Although this makes me happy that I have muscovy. There's no sandwiches because mating can take up to a half an hour for some drakes. It at least takes them about 5-10 minutes to chase the girl down, and another 5-10 to get in position. I had forgotten how nutty the mallard based ducks are with mating.

 

[chickens really]

Although this makes me happy that I have muscovy. There's no sandwiches because mating can take up to a half an hour for some drakes. It at least takes them about 5-10 minutes to chase the girl down, and another 5-10 to get in position. I had forgotten how nutty the mallard based ducks are with mating.

Not always as smooth with Calls either..Believe me Lisa they are all just Birds......

 

[Miss Lydia]

And my Muscovy drake would never get in the pool with another Muscovy drake if mating is going on or just bathing is going on. My Mallard derived could care less the more the merrier. @oldhenlikesdogs will your Muscovy drakes get into the pool with other Muscovy drakes?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

And my Muscovy drake would never get in the pool with another Muscovy drake if mating is going on or just bathing is going on. My Mallard derived could care less the more the merrier. @oldhenlikesdogs will your Muscovy drakes get into the pool with other Muscovy drakes?

Generally there's a pecking order and only the top drake mates where all can see. The subordinates mate on the sly, and if caught they get run off.

Occasionally there are big brawls where the drakes grab onto each other's wings and roll around on the ground fighting. Thankfully they tire out easily because of their weight. But they are like sumo wrestlers.

I only had 1 drake in the last few years. This year I have 3 young ones, so it all should be interesting again.

My last older drake was so over the act of mating at 12 years of age and the hens would chase him around.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very true I had forgot about my younger drakes and how sneaky they were it’s been about 4 yrs since I’ve had more than one Muscovy drake sure has been nice too my gander and Muscovy drake get into some pretty serious fights they don’t give up.