Most people do not know that ducks wag their tails.
But this is not the case as not only dogs but ducks and chickens also wag their tails.
And if you have been wondering why they do so then you should read this article to the end.
Why do ducks wag their tails? Ducks wag their tails to show affection and as a sign of happiness. They also wag their tails to move fluids from their tail end glands to their feather before preening which helps in releasing old and worn out feathers.
Ducks are very cute animals and when they start to wag their tails, you simply can’t smile and pick them up to cuddles
But the reason why they wag their tails is more than just to make them cute.
Why do ducks wag their tails?
If you ask most people including duck farmers and those that keep them as pets why ducks wag their tails, they do not have any answers
Here are some of the reasons why ducks wag their tails
1. They wag their tails during mating season
I noticed that my ducks start to wag their tails during mating season
This is usually a sign that they are going to look for a female to mate with
Another reason is that it is a way to impress the females and show dominance over other males which will then make female ducks to take an interest in them and pick them for mating.
While all ducks, both male and female can wag their tails, it is mostly seen among males
In other for males to woo the females and get them attracted to them, they also engage in other activities such as head pumping, wing flapping and preening but them wagging their tails is one important way they attract females
So if you see your ducks constantly wagging their tails, then you know they want to mate and if there are no females around you want to fix that.
2. They wag their tails to show affection
One unique thing about ducks is that they carry out imprinting.
What this simply means is that when a duck is born, they tend to show affection to the first living thing that they see
So if its their mother duck or even a human being they tend to love and show affection to that living thing for the rest of their lives
Now when they see that person or animal approach them they get excited and wag their tails.
This is their own unique way of saying that they care about you and they are excited about seeing you.
3. They wag their tails to preen their feathers
Finally ducks also wag their tails as a way to preen their feathers and get rid of old and worn out feathers
What happens is that as a duck comes out of a pond or has finished playing with water, they wag their tails as a way to dry them.
So as they wag their tails they move fluids from their tail ends to their feathers which then helps them to preen their feathers.
What to do when my ducks wag their tails?
If you find your duck constantly wagging their tails, what should you do?
1. Provide a partner for them
Remember when I said that one of the major reasons why ducks wag their tails is because they need a mate
So if you duck is at home and cannot find a mate, he is going to wag its tail all through mating season
This can be a bit frustrating for you as they can become very agitated when wagging their tails
So what you want to do is to provide a female duck for them to mate with
And if you have more than one drake, then ensure that you provide as many female ducks as possible as drakes can be quite vicious and aggressive when mating.
2. Give them treats and cuddles with them
When a duck see it’s imprint human, they get excited and want to show affection to that person
So when they start to wag their tails, the one thing you can do is to feed them, give them treats and cuddles with them
Ducks love treats such as grapes, raisins, bananas, tomatoes and pumpkins which you can feed them with.
They also enjoy cuddling and hugging and if you can then show them some love and affection.
How do you know when a duck likes you?
When a duck has imprinted on you and likes, it tends to follow you all around
It wags its tail excitedly when they see you while also bobbing their head up and down
Another thing that they do very well when they are excited is to quack loudly and flap their wings
So if you notice any of this behaviour among your birds, just know that they like you and will like some form of affection.
Which type of ducks wag their tails?
While you will think that all ducks wag their tails, this is not true.
It has been known that it is the muscovy ducks that wag their tails a lot when they are excited and want some affection.
Muscovy ducks are very difficult to miss with their bright red caruncles.
This unusual looking duck has been kept for years and is a staple farm bird among lots of people who keep it for its nutritious eggs and meat.
They have a broad long body and a wide tail and the males can grow up to 30 inches
They are usually black and white in colour but there have been cases where they have various colors such as blue, black, chocolate, lavender, green, bronze, barred and rippled.
On the top of the head there is a crest of erectile feathers which the bird will raise if excited or nervous – the crest is larger in the males.
The crest will be raised by the males in courtship to attract a mate.
Eyes are a yellow/brown color.
The eyes have a nictitating membrane that allows them to see underwater.
The bill is flat and can be yellow, pink, black or any combination.
It can also have pink ‘spots’ on it.
Conclusion
Ducks wag their tails as a sign of affection to people they love.
Among drakes, it is also a way to attract a partner and mate.
Finally they also wag their tails when they want to preen and get rid of old feathers.
