Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
Click for ZooMed
Click here to visit Classifieds

Common duck behavior?

cmart009 Jul 10, 2010 10:34 PM

I have three Pekins (two female, one male), two Rouen (both girls), a very young Muscovy, and a silver Magpie (male).

I was curious on the behavior that my Pekins and Rouen show me. My Pekin drake is extremely tame; He isn't afraid of people at all. He'll even come up to you. However, I'd like to know what it means by his head shaking (vibrations, basically), and him trying to worm his head up my arm. Is it a sign of dominance? Also, if I pick him up, he tries to mate with me by grabbing one hand, and going to town on my leg. The same applies to one of my females; She's comfortable enough that she won't run away when I go by her, but she doesn't like being picked up. If I set her on my lap, she tries the same thing: Grabs my hand in her beak, and tries to mate with my leg, or so I can tell. My other female, however, turns to face me whenever I get near her, lets forth a bunch of "Happy" peeps (or so we call them), and sits down. I pet her on her back, and she assumes a sort of...mating position.

My Rouens are the same as my one female; When I get near, they open up their beaks like they're angry. They also shake their heads, and try to worm their way up my arms. However, if I get close enough, they stand perfectly still, and allow me to pet them...somewhat. They won't run, but they don't seem to enjoy it, either. Is there any way to make them friendlier? Also, I can feed the Rouens by hand if I'm right by them. Any help on all of my ducks behavior would be appreciated.

Replies (1)

GrammaDuck Jul 15, 2010 02:00 PM

The behaviors you describe are all mating-type behaviors. The jiggling head, worming up your arm and assuming "the position."

I only have Pekins so cannot say exactly how to help your Rouens become frendlier. Do they like any particular special treat? Mine love watermelon chunks so anytime I have watermelon I can always coax them to hand feeding.

Site Tools