It has been interesting watching the behavior of the ducks and learning what certain behavior means. For instance Squabbles, our boisterous Pekin hen, never leaves the drakes side and she (since the introduction of the new runners) has taken to this chattery noise and head bobbing in a not so friendly way. Seems, based on what I’ve been reading and watching on the web, that this is her way of laying claim to the drake. Scuba, the other female Pekin is pretty mellow and seems to take the new runners in stride, I haven’t seen her nip at them all and she will occasionally wander off a bit with them foraging. Of the Rouens while they mixed seamlessly with the original flock they seem to stick together more now and they are both apt to charge the runners if they get too close to the feed or water. They all seem to sleep together however intermixed with no particular rhyme or reason to their arrangement and they forage together, they all move as a flock, though the runners seem to be just following along. Our drake stands sentry by the pool or by the food dish and really only dives into the middle when it’s time for peas, of which the runners don’t get any. I’ve divided the peas into 2 bowls in hopes that they will have the opportunity to get in on the goodies but they don’t dive in and approach too cautiously, only to get run off, usually by one of the Rouens. They are still very skittish, but if the rest of the flock is nearby they will approach quite close.. but very cautiously. Night time seems to be peaceful enough I try not to spy as the light on the camera flips the runners out and they get up and stir up the rest. But when I have checked they seem to be all still, I see runner heads standing often but they seem calm though wary .
