My 4 Pekin ducks have invented a couple of 'games' for themselves.. that they play every day. Its weird.. I did not think ducks had the intelligence for play... but maybe someone will correct me and tell me why they are doing this thing..
I have kept Capbell ducks before.. and they never did these strange things...... Let me explain what the Pekins are doing....
They like to get really close up to a small bush that is about 2 X their size. Its out in the open on my grass lawn.
Then one will push its head and neck right into the bush and seems to by trying to peek deep inside... moving its head back and forth. Sometimes they will lower their heads and take a long run at the bush like they are diving into it.
Then a duck will push its way right through the middle really fast and pop out the other side.
They especially like it if another duck is standing close on the other side.. so they can charge through and fall onto the other duck.
They take it in turns doing this for up to 15 minutes at a time several times a day.
I don't think they are trying to make a nest.. because the males also do it just as much as the females. And they never lay eggs in there.
Its really funny to watch.. I like it when one rolls out the other side and flops onto its belly.
Another thing they love it a long distance diving 'competition'. In the lake they will squash together on the water in silence, then one will make a loud long quack.. and they all dive under the water at the same time...
They swim as far as they can underwater in the same direction.. When they pop up the 'winner' is out in front and will stand up and the water and flap its wings... then rush back to clump together with its friends and they all are making excited quacking noises like they are cheering the winner!
I am not sure if they are really playing... or its some kind of normal duck behaviour like getting rid or parasites etc.
I think the Pekin ducks make the best pets.... they seem to be more smart and relaxed than the other breeds I have kept.. and mine are also, strangely, the quietist breed I have kept.. even though I read Pekins are usually very loud.
I have kept Capbell ducks before.. and they never did these strange things...... Let me explain what the Pekins are doing....
They like to get really close up to a small bush that is about 2 X their size. Its out in the open on my grass lawn.
Then one will push its head and neck right into the bush and seems to by trying to peek deep inside... moving its head back and forth. Sometimes they will lower their heads and take a long run at the bush like they are diving into it.
Then a duck will push its way right through the middle really fast and pop out the other side.
They especially like it if another duck is standing close on the other side.. so they can charge through and fall onto the other duck.
They take it in turns doing this for up to 15 minutes at a time several times a day.
I don't think they are trying to make a nest.. because the males also do it just as much as the females. And they never lay eggs in there.
Its really funny to watch.. I like it when one rolls out the other side and flops onto its belly.
Another thing they love it a long distance diving 'competition'. In the lake they will squash together on the water in silence, then one will make a loud long quack.. and they all dive under the water at the same time...
They swim as far as they can underwater in the same direction.. When they pop up the 'winner' is out in front and will stand up and the water and flap its wings... then rush back to clump together with its friends and they all are making excited quacking noises like they are cheering the winner!
I am not sure if they are really playing... or its some kind of normal duck behaviour like getting rid or parasites etc.
I think the Pekin ducks make the best pets.... they seem to be more smart and relaxed than the other breeds I have kept.. and mine are also, strangely, the quietist breed I have kept.. even though I read Pekins are usually very loud.
