Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Latley I have noticed that when I approach my female peking duck,daisy, she sometimes freezes perfectly still, stretches out her neck, and lowers almost compleatly to the ground. Then she just stays frozen like that, even when im petting her and finally after a few minutes she will just go back to normal. Is this normal duck behavior? And if it is what does it mean?

It happens with my female ducks, too. I think they do it to let you pick them up and hold them.

Ohhh
Thank you so much. That makes since becuase shes a very sweet and people person duck.

Your welcome. I have a girl that was one of my first ducks I've ever had and she does that all the time. Then a few more of my girls do it, just not as much as she does. Then, my other ducks that get scared easy and they never do it, so I think it's something only tame ones that like being handled do.

Hi,
This is actually a submissive mating behavior that the females do when they are trying to attract a mate. My females that were raised with other ducks will do this when freeranging with the boys only. My female that was hand raised by me however, will also do that sometimes when I'm outside with her. Pekins mate in water mostly, but sometimes on land (although not generally successfully); the males swim up onto the female's back. I guess it is helpful for the female to be stretched flat like that.

GrammaDuck

oh, well my ducks are muscovies that I'm talking about. I have a peking, but she doesn't like to be held. My muscovy enjoys being held and loved on.