Strange behavior... anyone know why??

[Shayrae4]

I have three 5 week old ducks. 2 pekins and a blue Swedish. They spend their days outside and still sleep inside. Normally they are in their pond or wandering the yard as happy as can be outside. Yesterday they literally spent ALL day sitting right outside my door and so far today they’ve done the same. I had freshly filled up their water and pool in the morning yesterday and it remained untouched when I brought them back in at night. they literally never left my porch. Anyone know why? I don’t feel like they’re particularly fond of me so I don’t think it’s that they want me. every time I opened the door (whether to come out or see if they would come in) they would run away. Did they want to come inside? Was it warmer by the door? It’s been a little colder than normal but still a high of 60 and they were in direct sun.

And one more weird behavior . I attached a video. Twice in like 15 min, one of the Pekins put her head on top of my baby’s head, almost like she was trying to eat my baby’s hair? Except she wasn’t pointing her beak down into the baby’s head. Just sliding it on top. What is this behavior? Was she trying to attack?

 

[arwoon]

I have three 5 week old ducks. 2 pekins and a blue Swedish. They spend their days outside and still sleep inside. Normally they are in their pond or wandering the yard as happy as can be outside. Yesterday they literally spent ALL day sitting right outside my door and so far today they’ve done the same. I had freshly filled up their water and pool in the morning yesterday and it remained untouched when I brought them back in at night. they literally never left my porch. Anyone know why? I don’t feel like they’re particularly fond of me so I don’t think it’s that they want me. every time I opened the door (whether to come out or see if they would come in) they would run away. Did they want to come inside? Was it warmer by the door? It’s been a little colder than normal but still a high of 60 and they were in direct sun.

And one more weird behavior . I attached a video. Twice in like 15 min, one of the Pekins put her head on top of my baby’s head, almost like she was trying to eat my baby’s hair? Except she wasn’t pointing her beak down into the baby’s head. Just sliding it on top. What is this behavior? Was she trying to attack?

Beautiful ducks! It didn't look like your duck was trying to attack. I don't know about sitting by the door... That's strange. Never heard of it before.

 

[KaleIAm]

I noticed your duck do the vibrating snakey neck motion in the video. My own ducks have done this up my arms when I have been touching them too much, and I imagine they felt over stimulated.

Some members feel it means the ducks are asserting dominance. Others think it is affectionate. Since your duck left afterward I'm more likely to think your duck was overstimulated and/or asserting dominance.

As for hanging out by the backdoor, I'm not sure. But maybe they felt safer?

Also, your kids are wonderful with your duck. Well done teaching them to be gentle!

 

[Duckberry]

That is weird! Did you give them a different treat lately that they might be begging for? Mine sit outside of our front door all the time, but it's usually because they want something, the wind is really bad, or they want attention. Some days we have to put a bunch of things in front of the path, so they don't poop everywhere!

PS- that video is adorable! It didn't look like attacking to me either. More like curiosity.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Well, my chickens come to the basement door when they're hungry because they know that's where the food comes from

 

[SolarDuck]

That vibratey shakey neck thing really reminded me of a Pekin duck at my park that does a similar thing every time there are new ducklings hatched. He seems to just be asserting dominance but not in an aggressive way and I think maybe that is what your duck is doing too.

You've got a super adorable duck!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d say dominance your baby is the smallest one In the group and so that’s the one who gets picked. If your duck is a drake you may have a problem in the next month or two, they can get pretty assertive once hormones start kicking in so you may not want your baby on the ground with them. Just the right size for mating behavior. Teach your duck that mounting is not appropriate behavior. If it starts we’ll give you advise on what to do. That is a precious video