Since my drake got killed last week, the two girls have been acting quite a bit different. The Cayuga is now incredibly vocal. If she catches a glimpse of me in the window she quacks several times real loud; she also does this every time I come outside, if anyone else goes out, if someone pulls in the driveway, etc. She was never this vocal before. None of this bothers me. The thing that I am curious about is when I come out she will quack loudly several times, then come running up to me and when she gets to me she approaches me while bobbing her head up and down. This she never did to me before. Why does she do it? Does anyone know?
Sounds as if she is regarding you as the "replacement" drake. The headbobbing and quacking or chattering can be flirting or saying "this is my guy--stay away." Isn't it nice to be admired.
There's no drake in my flock, so there is an appointed spokesduck. It is a rotating position. Zehn was spokesduck first, for about a year. Now it's Zwei, and looks like Funf is in training to be her replacement when Zwei steps down. The role of the spokesduck is to call out to the provider/protector, a kind of stay-in-touch activity. She also rallies the troops from time to time, moving them around the duck yard.
My mallard females and Cayugas ALWAYS head bob at me(and I'm female)....the drake occasionally does as well.I know when they do this to me it's kind of like a greeting thing.Sounds like yours are doing what Sourland says.... since it is new behavior.At least they know who will protect them....so cute!
