Duckling bill vibrating up my arm.

[dot n'dave]

One duckling in particular tends to vibrate its bill, working at my hand then going up my arm. At first I thought it might have been affection, but today I was moving things around in their pen, and moved my hand slowly over to touch them, and all of a sudden out of the group shot out a duckling right at my hand and started doing this bill vibrating thing, almost as if it were a defense or was threatened. My wife tends to think it's only because they're looking for food. Any thoughts?

 

[duckluck]

Is it the same thing they do while messing around in the dirt? Maybe he wants to eat your arm hairs?

 

[canada-goose]

It's just a funny duck thing.

 

[Goat_Walker]

My ducklings always do that. Its part affection, but when they kind of strike at you I think its more of a "ugh, who said people are smart? stupid humans!" kind thing. Not sure htough

 

[duckluck]

Guess I'll find out if I get some call ducks to hatch! I have not had anything but wild mallard ducklings before, and that was over 20 years ago...

 

[pardygwyn]

I'm guessing you're talking about the dabbling motion? That separates food from not-food in water and muck; they also seem to do it to shiny surfaces (I used to wake up to ducks dabbling at my window back when I had a basement bedroom) and to their people. Probably because we bring so much food. ;D They also do a defensive thing where their entire head starts shaking, then they shoot their neck out and kind of charge blindly. There isn't always a noticeable reason behind that second one, in those cases I think they may just be bored.

 

[dot n'dave]

pardygwyn- It's not the "dabbling" like when they eat. It's more like you said with the whole head doing it. And you hit the nail right on the head when you said the neck shoots out.

 

[DuckLady]

How cute! It does mean it is not afraid of you.

That is pretty rare since duck spazz out once they figure out that you are useless unless you have treats in your hand and should be treated accordingly.

 

[pardygwyn]

Heehee yep, you've got a duck who is at least comfortable around you. They usually only pull that maneuver on each other. I've had imprinted ducks do that to me when things are especially tedious and there's nowhere to go.

 

[Overeasyplz]

Aww i love it when ducklings do that, kinda like searching your pockets for treats!