I have big coco maran rooster that is the boss of our backyard. He has always been a good general looking over all of our chickens, guineas and ducks here on our little acreage. This past week and a half, as springtime has finally sprung here in southern Iowa, we have had a lot of issues with our guineas tormenting our ducks. So to keep the peace we converted a big old dog house into a duck coop and relocated our snow fence to form a big fenced-in area for our ducks. This has worked well to keep the guineas away but it has also brought an amazing friendship to light.
Our ducks are Blue Swedish/Rouen cross and the head drake is a green-headed fellow named Big Mac (his lady is called Cheese). He is quite content looking over his ladies in his new area. But yesterday I say the big rooster come up to the edge of the fence calling an unusual sound, "CHUCK, CHUCK, CHUCK!" Mac the duck answered back with some quacks and met the rooster at the fence, sticking his long neck through the space between slats. Then the rooster stood there with is head straight up while Big Mac the duck groomed all around his neck, waddles, and comb.
When they were done with this show of friendship, both exchange pleasantry and returned to their respective flocks. My guess is that mr. duck was nibbling at some hard to reach mites? Or perhaps it was just the king of the ducks paying tribute to the chicken king. Any way, I have noticed this happen twice now, always the two big males. What an unusual friendship!
Our ducks are Blue Swedish/Rouen cross and the head drake is a green-headed fellow named Big Mac (his lady is called Cheese). He is quite content looking over his ladies in his new area. But yesterday I say the big rooster come up to the edge of the fence calling an unusual sound, "CHUCK, CHUCK, CHUCK!" Mac the duck answered back with some quacks and met the rooster at the fence, sticking his long neck through the space between slats. Then the rooster stood there with is head straight up while Big Mac the duck groomed all around his neck, waddles, and comb.
When they were done with this show of friendship, both exchange pleasantry and returned to their respective flocks. My guess is that mr. duck was nibbling at some hard to reach mites? Or perhaps it was just the king of the ducks paying tribute to the chicken king. Any way, I have noticed this happen twice now, always the two big males. What an unusual friendship!
