#$@%^#$! (insert swear word)

[Denninmi]

When I had all hen Rouens years back, they were very, um, "frisky" -- activity isn't necessarily a sign that they aren't all female.

I was actually upset that I didn't have a male -- being new to birds at that time, I didn't know what I know now, and even tried to incubate a batch of the first eggs, obviously infertile.

 

[Amiga]

WadeMD,

As far as I can tell, I have eleven female runners. And they play "hop on top" all the time! Looks very much like the real thing, except there is no male equipment involved.

And that staccato noise - I hear it from mine regularly. They are excited. The females make that choppy, hard to describe noise when they want to express breeding behavior*. I have a couple that are more likely to be on top of the others, but they really seem to mix it up quite a bit.

I get that noise sometimes when I am being greeted by them. It often goes with sideways up and down movement of the head. It's part of their social behavior repertoire - no one is getting hurt, thought sometimes I note that it has been a few seconds that the one underneath has her head held underwater. It has made me nervous, but then I see how long they hold their breath fishing around for things at the bottom of the pool.

*Edit: They use that noise when I lay down fresh straw or bedding, or when I give them a new area to explore, etc. It is the "hey, wow, everybody look at this!" noise.

 

[Amiga]

Oh, yeah (lost my train of thought . . . )

About laying. Do I recall that yours are a few weeks younger than mine? (I may be wrong there, with yours a little older . . . ) Mine were hatched on 2/22. So they just completed their fourth month (18 weeks). One began laying very early - at 16 weeks. We just today had a black runner begin laying (based on egg color, our other three layers are chocolate).

I don't expect everyone to be on board for another six weeks or so. Little Elfie probably won't lay until September, if then, because she's just a little slow, developmentally.

 

[WadeMD]

Quote:
I picked up these birds to be layers primarily, so a male just dilutes what I'm getting in the end. But, more than that, I don't want fertilized eggs, especially since I already have a good number of people asking me for them. Its very bad if someone happens to have a newly developing embryonic chick fall into their cake batter. I realize you can't tell too readily that they are fertilized if they are fresh, but if I am holding onto a couple dozen for someone, that time lapse could be ugly, especially if I find one thats not just dropped that morning.

I am going to be trying to figure out if any of this is real or not. The runners won't let me handle them much, so flipping one of them onto their backs and checking physically would be very difficult.

I am hoping that you guys are right and this is just behavioral. I thought at first it might be, but was a little thrown by the fact that the one on top curled its body under the bottom one and both tails were held off to the side appropriately.

Amiga - mine hatched March 10th, so you have 2 weeks on me. So far, none have laid that I can tell. I bet that'll change really quickly now!

 

[Amiga]

WadeMD,

It has been since 6/17 (first egg), just about exactly two weeks now. Our flocks are from different hatcheries, different lines, so that could factor in as well. Your climate is just a little ahead of mine, but fairly similar. Certainly day length is about the same.

Have you started them on layer ration or free choice oyster shell? Don't forget the dandelions! (I need to scrounge some more . . . )

 

[PlumTuckered]

My two Pekin Hens have been topping each other since I gave my Pekin Drake away, my Mallard Drake should be topping age within the next few weeks so I'm hoping to see my Hens go back to acting like normal girls LOL

Michelle

 

[ChickenChik]

Females and males will exhibit mating behavior towards each other. Also, you will not have a duckling fall into the cake batter. Eggs can be fertile and still eat them. A fertile egg will not develop unless it is incubated. So a drake is not a bad thing. Keep him (if it is a him) and sell ducklings one day.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

Do you have a pic you can post of the duck in question?

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

Quote:
That movement usually means they are "flirting" with each other.

 

[sourland]

If you collect eggs on a daily basis, there will be no development of fertilized eggs. Usually the neck over the back, bobbing head and staccato sound is a hen saying this is my man stay away.