One Duck Using Other Duck As A Floatie

[ChaoticRogue14]

Okay, I know it sounds like my ducks are in the process of mating based on the title but I know this isn't the case since my two ducks are both female.
Here's the story:
Today, I let my two girls out of the coop like I normally do. They went to the pond and started washing and eating and whatnot but then my Rouen just climbed up onto my Pekin's back (crosswise, not parallel) like she didn't want to swim anymore. I thought this was pretty funny on the beginning, assuming my Pekin would just shake my Rouen off, but her "mating reflex" kicked in and she was immobilized, neck stretched out and unable to do anything about her companion. My Rouen started nibbling at my Pekin's head and pushed it underwater.
That's when I went outside and broke up this proverbial pool party.
Does anyone have any idea why this would happen? They grew up together, they're my only ducks so there's no competition for anything. My Rouen IS moulting her wing feathers but I doubt that has anything to do with her odd behavior today.
Any explanation is welcome. I'm worried this could happen again when I'm not around to keep my Rouen from drowning my Pekin.

Bonus Question: My ducks are almost a year old, so they're mature and I'm getting eggs from them. HOWEVER, I only get one egg every day or so. They seemed to be laying fine during the winter but now I think only my Pekin is producing the eggs. Any explanations for that?

Thank you very much in advance!

 

[Smurfbrew]

It's a game of what some folks on here call "hop on top."

It is mating play and girls will do it to each other if there are no boys around. I have only three girls and they do it to each other all the time. It's hormones and gets worse around mating season in the spring. They've actually cooled off a bit already and only do it occasionally now. It's just part of nature!

Oh and moulting can be hard on them, so they probably won't lay eggs and moult at the same time. You'll see more eggs again when the moult is over.

 

[ChaoticRogue14]

Thank you so much! I was worried it was a dominance thing. The odd part about it though is that my Rouen doesn't have that mating reflex. I guess some ducks have it and others just don't?

Really though, this was very informative. I really appreciate the quick reply.

 

[Smurfbrew]

Thank you so much! I was worried it was a dominance thing. The odd part about it though is that my Rouen doesn't have that mating reflex. I guess some ducks have it and others just don't?

Really though, this was very informative. I really appreciate the quick reply.

Sure, no problem. I wouldn't have know what it was either when my girls started doing it without the good folks on here. And yeah, some ducks are more into it than others. I can almost see one of my girls roll her eyes when the other two start up. Sometimes she plays too, but not very often and usually just stands up sideways on top for a minute or two. Kind of looks like she's surfing!