Duck shakes with excitement....? (Vibrating ducks)

[cat1994]

One of my lil call drakes did this when I held him on my lap, I don’t think it was his way of saying he was happy. More like a let me go right now kind of reaction, he would begin to shake and then pounce up at my face (never got there b/c he was so small) I thought it was so funny but I never got the feeling he did it cause he liked me. My geese do this when I catch them and sit down with them, they begin to vibrate but they never lung at me, I wonder if this is the same thing, has anyone else ever had a goose do this to them? My Mallard hen never did shake or pounce at me she would set quietly on my lap and just nibble every thing, I always thought that that was what a happy duck does, am I wrong?

 

[Speceider]

My Mallard hen never did shake or pounce at me she would set quietly on my lap and just nibble every thing, I always thought that that was what a happy duck does, am I wrong?

Yes, you are wrong, that's displacement behavior. A nervous duck not knowing what else to do.

Geese also shake when stressed.

Clint

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
No, I don't think you're wrong there. I think if they are just hanging out in your lap and nibbling at things, they're pretty content.

 

[showjumper_girl2002]

just a thought, but maybe it's like a dog panting? dogs will pant beacause they're really happy and will also pant when they're really nervous. i thought of this after reading all your descriptions of the situation when they start vibrating. perhaps they do this for many reasons...happy,nervous,protective? i think that's probobly it because the way some of you describe it sure makes it seem it's because they're happy/excited and others that they are nervous. what do you think

 

[OrangeNational]

Strange, my ducks always run away, unless I have food

 

[Dallysducks]

I was also worried. I thought my duck was having a seizure. I'm glad it's common in runners

 

[tdgill]

I've never seen my ducks do it in a stressed, unhappy way. I've always seen it as a dominance, being bossy tactic. I would consider excitement being a cause, since mine will do it when they are gathered around me for frozen peas, but it seems that it is used to dominate the chickens and scare them away - usually with an added gesture of the duck extending his neck over the chicken's back or giving him a poke. I also think the do it to me to "force" me into giving them more peas. lol. When I run out I usually get nibbled and frisked for the next few minutes. It TICKLES!

 

[Chick1043]

Mine do this when they don't want other animals to be around..lol They get jealous sometimes when I am paying attention to an animal other than them..

 

[yanakaye]

mine do it too!!!! i first noticed them doing it when i went away on holiday for a month and then came back and they went crazy!! unfortunately my male baby died, but i got another one for a companion for my little girl and she started doing it to him, which i had never seen her do to my other male. the new male just did it to me tonight, which i was delighted with as i think it means they are happy, they certainly seem happy, they do it when i stroke their heads mostly, they start with a shake and then they jump up my arm or put their beak up my sleeve. and then try and nibble my fingers. i hope it means they are happy!

 

[Amykins]

I've never seen a duck do this before - certainly not my Wobbles. The only "vibrating" she does is just before she does a feather fluff. Is there a video of it?