Do you think ducks are able to have an alternate sexual orientation?

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I have these two male ducks, all of their siblings died off, and they befriended each other. One is a 3 or 4 year old chocolate runner and the other is a 2 year old Swedish. Let me tell you about the runner.

He was friends with a Swedish female who was a good two years older than him. She had been friends with a penciled runner who was a good two years older than her. So the chocolate runner and old Swedish were good friends for about six months. Then all of our ducks were dead except the chocolate runner. Three months later we got 5 Swedish ducklings from a friend. The runner showed no interest in them and only signs that he thought he was a roo. (He jumped on hens, had his own group, etc.). Then 4 of the ducklings died off and he started following the other one around (I guess the Swedish was full grown at this point.) They really liked each other, then the Swedish started doing you-know-what to the runner. It is kind of creepy.

Now they have two Barred Rocks that are allowed to follow them around but they chase everyone else. Occasionally the runner does you-know-what to a hen (never their barred rock) then the Swedish does you-know-what to the runner. Really, really creepy.

They follow each other everywhere and know that it is warm they sleep during the day and eat bugs at night. I feel bad for the runner because he has scabs all down his neck from the Swedish. For a while the runner tried to bend down low so he looked like a skinny Swedish duck.

So what I'm asking is do you think that ducks are capable of being gay? And if so do you think mine are? The runner never made advances to the Swedish hen.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have these two male ducks, all of their siblings died off, and they befriended each other. One is a 3 or 4 year old chocolate runner and the other is a 2 year old Swedish. Let me tell you about the runner.

He was friends with a Swedish female who was a good two years older than him. She had been friends with a penciled runner who was a good two years older than her. So the chocolate runner and old Swedish were good friends for about six months. Then all of our ducks were dead except the chocolate runner. Three months later we got 5 Swedish ducklings from a friend. The runner showed no interest in them and only signs that he thought he was a roo. (He jumped on hens, had his own group, etc.). Then 4 of the ducklings died off and he started following the other one around (I guess the Swedish was full grown at this point.) They really liked each other, then the Swedish started doing you-know-what to the runner. It is kind of creepy.

Now they have two Barred Rocks that are allowed to follow them around but they chase everyone else. Occasionally the runner does you-know-what to a hen (never their barred rock) then the Swedish does you-know-what to the runner. Really, really creepy.

They follow each other everywhere and know that it is warm they sleep during the day and eat bugs at night. I feel bad for the runner because he has scabs all down his neck from the Swedish. For a while the runner tried to bend down low so he looked like a skinny Swedish duck.

So what I'm asking is do you think that ducks are capable of being gay? And if so do you think mine are? The runner never made advances to the Swedish hen.

I can tell you one thing your ducks will kill your hens mating with them, chickens and ducks do not have the same anatomical design and can NOT mate safely. they will eventually kill your hens. You should keep your drakes separate, and they may go through the mating ritiual but I have never seen a drake actually mate with another drake, but i guess it's possible, Sounds like maybe your Swedish is being very dominant with your runner with all the scabs, better get them some girls asap.

 

[furbabymum]

Most animals use sex as a form of dominance. I'm sure your Swedish is simply showing your runner who the boss is.

It's like some torrid soap opera in your coops. lol

 

[zooweemama]

I have to second what Miss Lydia said. I looked up the anatomy of ducks and chickens a couple weeks ago and let me tell you- now I know why a drake can kill a hen if he mates her. His penis is ginormously long, shaped like a cork screw and forcibly mates usually. A hens anatomy can not handle a drakes mating. We are talking like difference between a stallions parts and a dogs parts. It's really not the same. You need to keep your hens safe from any further drake advances. And if your other drake is being wounded a lot- you might need to consider either getting some females (4 to 5 minimum per drake), re-homing one of them or consider a sort of separation of sorts where they can see each other but not get to each other so the wounded drake has a chance to heal. <3

 

[Marwan]

i was worried about mine considering theirs no girls but they seem to take turns in dominance. some days one is dominant and the other days its the other one. i know im not dominant XD but its quite common in ducks so not really something to worry about. as long as it dont get rough

 

[RubberDuckee]

I think it is very unlikely. I used to have 2 male dogs that did this. It was more of a dominance thing... After one of them was "fixed" the behavior stopped. I think your duck is trying to exercise his dominance and display his authority over the other duck. His hormones are pumping and he needs to make sure that everyone knows he is the boss.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Miss Lydia and zooweemama,

I'm sorry, I didn't mean that they actually mate with the hens. They kind of just chase them around and then maybe try to grab their necks. I don't think they've ever pinned them down. None of them seem hurt at all even then. I will try and keep a closer eye on them just to be sure though.

And about getting some girls. We've tried but they always seems to get eaten as soon as we release them. I would really like to get rid of them and do realize that they need to be separate but they always freak and can't stand to be apart.

I took a closer look at the runner and I think it might be some sort of bug bite there, too.

Also, none of these events are very common. They only try and chase a hen every month or so, and each other even less.

Thank you for the info guys! (Does anybody want a couple of creepy ducks

*kidding*)

 

[Miss Lydia]

Miss Lydia and zooweemama,

I'm sorry, I didn't mean that they actually mate with the hens. They kind of just chase them around and then maybe try to grab their necks. I don't think they've ever pinned them down. None of them seem hurt at all even then. I will try and keep a closer eye on them just to be sure though.

And about getting some girls. We've tried but they always seems to get eaten as soon as we release them. I would really like to get rid of them and do realize that they need to be separate but they always freak and can't stand to be apart.

I took a closer look at the runner and I think it might be some sort of bug bite there, too.

Also, none of these events are very common. They only try and chase a hen every month or so, and each other even less.

Thank you for the info guys! (Does anybody want a couple of creepy ducks

*kidding*)

I don't know where your located but if you post on your states thread and you really want to find them a home, someone might want them if they live close enough to you.

 

[inge]

May be they dont like the way the others look.

 

[70%cocoa]

Sounds like you could consider your predator proofing. Unfortunately you have lost a lot of ducks

Personally, I think that you could consider either 1. getting at least four female ducks and keep them all in a predator proof area or 2. re-homing your drakes. Seems that your Runner is suffering quite a bit of damage there. You are right to be a bit worried about him.

It's pretty normal for drakes to get into a bit of 'boy time' hanky-panky with eachother if there are no females around. Or for ducks to have 'girl time' even if there are drakes around. I have two ducks that are sisters that are into each other way more than the boys!! Who knows whether it is dominance or love or fun.... My girls do it when they are excited - that is, when I have given them fresh water in their pool. So I have always seen it as a recreational thing, not a dominance display. Both my girls lay lots of eggs but they are not that into their drake, poor boy. Luckily he has two other ladies who love him.