Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My rouen duck (duckie) when he gets upset or mad he bends his head down to the ground and when he lifts it up, it sounds like hee hah hee hah like a donkey, do all male rouens do this or do I just have a strange duck.

Hey

I don't think you've got a strange duck.
As you've said it's a male from what you've described it sounds as though your duck is acting out a form of mating display. All animals have a form of mating display where males or in some species the female, carries out a certain behaviour in order to attract a member of the opposite gender.
Ducks normally do this around the Autumn, so that they can find a new mate or strengthen the bond of a partner in time for the following Spring. In the wild or in large groups of ducks the males all gather together and perform the ritual that you described, and then the females can chose their favourite.

Theres nothing to worry about, i've got Indian Runners, and my males do exactly the same thing. It normally lasts for a month or so - it depends on how quickly he finds a mate really.

I hope this helps.

Mel x

The only thing is he's done this all year round, and when he's floating around in the koi pond, I tell him to get out, and he starts to do the donkey impression. He won't find a mate either. I found him in the middle of the road when he was a baby. He has wild duck friends, about 60 mallards that stop by to see him, but they fly away in the evenings. Do you know if he would mate with a wild duck, I'm hoping not, since Rouen's don't normally fly.. Thanks for the info!

Hey,

If he hasn't got a mate then this is most likely the reason for him to do this continually all year. And also if he have a large number of Mallards visit him each day, it's probably boosting this behaviour in the hope that one day he will find a mate.

As for him pairing up with a Mallard, im not sure. Ducks of different breeds do pair up and become mates, although they generally would go for a member of their own breed.

The only thing that i would suggest is maybe getting him a female Rouen or two, so that hopefully he can pair off with her/them. Ducks are social birds and can live happily together in pairs or a small flock.
Or you could just leave him to carry on as he's doing if you don't want another duck.

Mel X

I would love to get another duck, but my other half would shoot me.My duck is afraid of the dark so, it sounds strange I know, but he sleeps in the house in his own cage, he doesn't run around, just sleeps inside. I have 5 cats, 1 guinea pig, 1 dog, 4birds, an aquarium 160gallons, and a 45 gallon. I also feed about 50 raccoons that come to visit, and about 40squirrels. As you see I take in everyone that needs a home. I have a 3000 gallon koi pond and an 850gallon koi pond, and having duckie and his friends kind of irritates my husband. My husband calls duckie " Muther Mucker" cause he mucks everything in the yard. My duck is my baby so he gets away with everything. Thanks again for all the info!

Hey,

Well it sounds as though your house is like mine.. a zoo!
It's nice that you look after and feed so many animals, thats another thing we have in common.
Don't worry about your duck, it seems as though he has plenty of company.

Take care, Mel X

your drake probly wont mate with another duck because he's confused as to what species he is, he probly thinks your his mate, how old is he?