Female Ducks and Behavior-Show me how much you know.

[4hooves&featheredfriends]

I have been observing my ducks lately and find their behavior really interesting. I am hoping to become more aware of what it all means....hoping someone can help sort it all out

1. My 15 week old hen is starting the "squatty" thing and sometimes produces a milky discharge. I am thinking she is becoming "sexual" as my layers all did this.....

2. The same hen, does a series of head bobs in front of me, like she is bowing and makes a weep, weep, weep quiet sound as she approaches. She is always the first to approach.

Is she flirting or does she see me as a protector?

3. Throughout the day I hear the two hens, that I have had the longest make a racket with a Waack-Waack- Waaaack, Wack, Wek,Wek Waaack. Is this an alert to danger, being angry or looking for their protector?

Believe me I am not into anthropomorphism, but I do find this intriguing. Couldn't find any threads on this....

 

[Riven]

Generally when ducks put their heads down they are being protective. I don't think that any ducks or chickens really think of us as their protectors.

Ducks get loudest when they are arguing ( establishing order), mating, or alerting the others that something is wrong.

Everyone has a different relationship with their birds, but I don't consider myself a protector of my birds, I mean I will protect them, but I consider them as helpful to me, like a partnership where all are equal.

 

[rainplace]

I think you're right about the head bob and that it has to do with mating. Although my female silky will also bob right before she gooses one of the other ducks.

 

[DuckLady]

4hooves&featheredfriends :

I have been observing my ducks lately and find their behavior really interesting. I am hoping to become more aware of what it all means....hoping someone can help sort it all out



1. My 15 week old hen is starting the "squatty" thing and sometimes produces a milky discharge. I am thinking she is becoming "sexual" as my layers all did this.....
She should be laying soon

2. The same hen, does a series of head bobs in front of me, like she is bowing and makes a weep, weep, weep quiet sound as she approaches. She is always the first to approach.
She wants a date.

Is she flirting or does she see me as a protector?
See #2 above. When breedign or eglaying season is over, she will probably want nothing to do with you.

3. Throughout the day I hear the two hens, that I have had the longest make a racket with a Waack-Waack- Waaaack, Wack, Wek,Wek Waaack. Is this an alert to danger, being angry or looking for their protector?
They are talking and making noise. When there is danger, they will be their quietest so as to not call attention to themselves.

Believe me I am not into anthropomorphism, but I do find this intriguing. Couldn't find any threads on this....

I find it intriguing, too.
However, I am positive they were laughing at me when I fell int he mud last winter. They came over and stood around me in a semi-circle and laughed. ka-WACK quackkwak!!​

 

[CityChicker]

When she is squatting, is she doing it right in front of you? If she is and especially if she will allow you to touch her back, then she is soliciting you for mating. I have not seen that behavior in ducks (although it is certainly possible, especially if she is very accustomed to your presence). The behavior is rather common in some other types of birds. If you are just observing her squatting from a distance, she is likely just getting ready to lay.

When she puts her head down, does she leave it down to the ground or is she bobbing it up and down? If she is leaving it towards the ground or running with it down, then it can be a sign of her flexing her dominance. If she is bobbing it up and down, again she is soliciting you. Birds do that as a feeding response from whom they see as their "parent" (some birds, like parrots, will do it for other people as well not just one person) and it can also be soliciting mating. It is another behavior that is kind of rare for ducks, but I have seen them do it on occasion.

 

[4hooves&featheredfriends]

Thanks for your responses. I guess I better stop "bowing" back or my duck will think I am asking her for a date.

I have had the two hens since they were 3 days old and spend a bit of time handling them, hand feeding them and moving them from their stall to the outside pen. They imprinted on me within about 5-7 days.

The head bobbing is a stretching of the neck forward and down, back to "neutral" and then forward and down fairly smoothly and at a frequent rate.

When she squats she comes over near me and lets me touch her back and then squats - so I am within a foot or so.

BTW, when I introduced my new hens to the original two - this hen and the smallest new hen began butting chests and nipping at each others chest. Like two men in a bar that are in an argument, that is the chest butting not the nipping. Then they would both go over and drink water with each other. A few moments would pass and back at the "wrestling" again. Pretty sure this was a flock hierarchy thing. But it was pretty neat watching.

 

[amarook]

My duck does this too. She's is 16 weeks old.
She kinda freezes, lowers her body droops her wings, hold her head out, and says week ekekekekek weeek

I think she's wanting a mate personally.

She has other odd behavior too. Her buddy she grew up with was killed last month by a dog. I got a call duck to keep her company, but all she does it whack whack whack all day long.

I'm going to follow this thread though to see what other people think.

btw, I think only chickens are called Hens. With ducks it's duck of drake.

 

[4hooves&featheredfriends]

I am going to try to video the girls today to show some of their comedy acts.

Come on duck owners - we know that you watch those duckers of yours. It is all right - come on out and tell us what you think.

 

[jacyjones]

I have 3 female ducks and they do a lot of head bobbing which I have always regarded as part of the mating process. This occurs when they are at the water and ends with one duck being mounted by another - no males present, obviously!
I have never seen the head down thing until recently when my older duck got very cross with a young cockerel I had. She fluffed all her feathers out and did the head right down and charge at him. She really felt he was a threat to her position unlike all the female chickens.
Ducks make many noises and 'talk' to each other all the time. I get the 'give me food' shout regularly but the rest of the converstion is between themselves!

 

[Wifezilla]

1. My 15 week old hen is starting the "squatty" thing and sometimes produces a milky discharge. I am thinking she is becoming "sexual" as my layers all did this.....

Eggs are on the way!

2. The same hen, does a series of head bobs in front of me, like she is bowing and makes a weep, weep, weep quiet sound as she approaches. She is always the first to approach.

Is she flirting or does she see me as a protector?

She sees you as the dominant flock member

3. Throughout the day I hear the two hens, that I have had the longest make a racket with a Waack-Waack- Waaaack, Wack, Wek,Wek Waaack. Is this an alert to danger, being angry or looking for their protector?

They are just gossiping.​