Post by catherine on Nov 27, 2008 7:29:25 GMT -5
Calling all Muscovy people. Could you perhaps explain to me what my Drake is doing? Even as a tiny duckling, he was always the most friendly little duck we'd ever met. While still a little yellow and black puff ball, he walked up to us at the public park and adopted us. He let us pick him up, and when we put him back down and turned to leave, he followed us back to the car! My daughter begged to take him home. I relented, and named him "Blue" because of his startlingly blue eyes in his now bright red caruncling). He's since become "Uncle Blue" to our 5 Self-Blue Muscovy ducklings. The pen they live in is actually more like a very large rabbit hutch, in that it's up off the ground. He is always been just fine with our picking him up and putting him on the ground, and lifting him back up into the cage, after his day out. The others have never been as friendly, though they've finally become resigned to this treatment, over time.
Anyway, to my question. I've noticed that Uncle Blue has become much more "affectionate", of late...almost aggressively so. At first, it was kinda cute. He'd nibble on our sleeves while we petted him, and even nibbled his way up our arms until we'd pick him up (carefully...he's got claws! lol). Then a couple of days ago, this nibbling became almost frenzied. He'd try to nibble (hard!) on our shoes and pants legs, and even chase our feet as we tried to walk, to the point of getting tangled up between our feet as he tried to nibble, with the kids and I walking FAST. Andrew began asking if this wasn't affection but a dominance display!? I took to pinching Blue's beak closed while petting him, trying to reverse the dominance in my favor. It didn't seem to make any difference as he fought to free his beak and return to the hard nibbling and trying to climb up our legs (I think). The other 5 "ducklings" are pretty well grown, and the males are growing their caruncling. It appears that there's only one little duck for the 4 self-blue boys plus "Uncle Blue". I've not seen any mating activity, but they are probably all hormonal teenagers. Is Blue trying to act like we're females or what?!?
Anyway, to my question. I've noticed that Uncle Blue has become much more "affectionate", of late...almost aggressively so. At first, it was kinda cute. He'd nibble on our sleeves while we petted him, and even nibbled his way up our arms until we'd pick him up (carefully...he's got claws! lol). Then a couple of days ago, this nibbling became almost frenzied. He'd try to nibble (hard!) on our shoes and pants legs, and even chase our feet as we tried to walk, to the point of getting tangled up between our feet as he tried to nibble, with the kids and I walking FAST. Andrew began asking if this wasn't affection but a dominance display!? I took to pinching Blue's beak closed while petting him, trying to reverse the dominance in my favor. It didn't seem to make any difference as he fought to free his beak and return to the hard nibbling and trying to climb up our legs (I think). The other 5 "ducklings" are pretty well grown, and the males are growing their caruncling. It appears that there's only one little duck for the 4 self-blue boys plus "Uncle Blue". I've not seen any mating activity, but they are probably all hormonal teenagers. Is Blue trying to act like we're females or what?!?