Duck head bobbing behavior??

[2colegroves]

I have 6 ducks, one male and 5 females, Howey the male is one happy duck, my females do the head bobbing when Howey waddles up to them, they never do the head bobbing toward me, I have even seen one of the females lay down in front of him with her neck stretched way out flat on the ground and Howey climbs her back and thats the rest of the story, one of my females was crippled from birth, she has a hard time following the rest of the gang but she really tries hard, earlier today I was walking with her and Howey came up to us and the crippled female (Daisy) went up to Howey and she started bobbing her head, the first time I ever seen her do that. Howey prefers to mate with his females when they are in the creek. I love my ducks.

 

[chelseyb1234]

My ducks also do the head bobbing, they do it when their happy and they also do it when their going to mate.. Sometimes they just do it just to do it

 

[gryeyes]

Head bobbing is flirting. Stretching the head and neck out, low to the ground, is an invitation to hop aboard. Ahem. It's really obvious if you see them in water doing it.

I have a 300 gallon stock tank and two kiddie pools for my two geese and twenty-something Cayuga ducks. There is also a deep kitchen dishpan which I THOUGHT would be good for drinking, but the little hussy ducks have turned it into a sort of Hot Tub of Duck Love.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Head bobbing is flirting. Stretching the head and neck out, low to the ground, is an invitation to hop aboard. Ahem. It's really obvious if you see them in water doing it.

I have a 300 gallon stock tank and two kiddie pools for my two geese and twenty-something Cayuga ducks. There is also a deep kitchen dishpan which I THOUGHT would be good for drinking, but the little hussy ducks have turned it into a sort of Hot Tub of Duck Love.

mine have even tried to use the 5 gallon heated water bucket but being Muscovy only one fits at a time.

 

[Nandinaberry]

Head bobbing is flirting. Stretching the head and neck out, low to the ground, is an invitation to hop aboard. Ahem. It's really obvious if you see them in water doing it.

I have a 300 gallon stock tank and two kiddie pools for my two geese and twenty-something Cayuga ducks. There is also a deep kitchen dishpan which I THOUGHT would be good for drinking, but the little hussy ducks have turned it into a sort of Hot Tub of Duck Love.

I have three Cayuga females, 20 weeks old. They start swimming in a circle together in their tank, bobbing their heads and doing a little staccato ack-ack-ack, then one will assume the posture you described. Soon another duck will grab the back of her head with a bill full of feathers and climb on top. When the submerged duck gets tired of it all, game over.

 

[oldnewtimer]

I've got two crested ducks. One male and one female. I've had them covered up over the winter after I lost my white runner to the cold frosty winter we've had here in my county. Previous to these ducks I had several Mallards all of which did the 'head bob job'. This persisted for a week or so and before I knew it, several of my girls were sitting on eggs! Back to the two new comers (and the only ones I have now), they have begun head bobbing, I'm expecting more egg sitting at some point in the future. Whilst at a show I attended for poultry and water fowl, I came across an ex vet. He specialised in poultry and water fowl and during conversation I explained the bizarre head bobbing I had come across with my ducks(mallards at the time). He confirmed that they were flirting with each other, they were at sexual maturity and I should expect a new flock shortly! He wasn't wrong! He called this the 'head bob job' I can now say that I am reasonably sure this behaviour is a sign! he did say that it can just mean that they are happy and pleased to see you but in most circumstances it means your expecting! Good luck to all who come across this behaviour and if its what you want, you might have some ducklings!

 

[CyndiD]

http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/pigeon.html
I found an answer to the head bobbing, which is what i suspected. It is a visual reason for bobbing their heads. My 2 & 3 week old duckligs (runners & buff) bob their heads when they are watching me walk around them in their brooder. I think they are getting a better look at me & all their surroundings in our home. My 1 yr old fawn & white runners bob like crazy when i am holding their food dish above them & they want to see what is in it. I know they do it for other reasons also, (mating & greeting). But i believe it is all for a better view. Just my opinion, & im sticking to it, tee hee. Thanks for reading my post.

 

[CyndiD]

http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/pigeon.html
I found an answer to the head bobbing, which is what i suspected. It is a visual reason for bobbing their heads. My 2 & 3 week old duckligs (runners & buff) bob their heads when they are watching me walk around them in their brooder. I think they are getting a better look at me & all their surroundings in our home. My 1 yr old fawn & white runners bob like crazy when i am holding their food dish above them & they want to see what is in it. I know they do it for other reasons also, (mating & greeting). But i believe it is all for a better view. Just my opinion, & im sticking to it, tee hee. Thanks for reading my post.

P.S. i just looked in on my 4 day old chocolate runners (2) & 1 of them was looking up at me & was bobbing her head, getting a better view of me, sizing me up, so to speak!

 

[ozark hen]

When I had ducks they would also bob their heads when they saw me. Expecting snacks?? Lol I always assumed it just meant they were excited to see me

 

[Hybridchucks]

That is called around here as "The Hussy Head Bob".

She is flirting.
I find it amazing they can do the head bob and walk in a straight line LOL

do males "flirt"? will this help identify my call duckling's gender? xx @DuckLady