Broody Drake?

[Goosebaby]

Bramble is an almost six week Welsh Harlequin cross with either a Buff or a Cayuga buff cross. I’m usually correct when vent sexing goslings but I have zero percent accuracy with vent sexing ducklings so I knew I probably was wrong with Bramble but Bramble appeared to be a female at first.
After about two weeks Bramble began to exhibit some behaviors I saw in my confirmed female ducklings, making a “hurrrr” sound and grabbing my hand to tuck it under her while napping on my lap.
Close to the end of week four I noticed some vocal changes, Bramble’s had a hint of a nasally element so I began to suspect Bramble may be male.
Bramble’s voice has gotten more nasally so I think Bramble is definitely a drake…..however Bramble has only gotten more “broody.” Bramble even plops down on his mom’s eggs at least twice a day to scoot his little feet around the nest and then bury the eggs when he’s done playing “mom” with them which is surprising for a duckling his age let alone a drake.

Anyone else seen this kind of behavior in a little drake?

This is Bramble.




Bramble and his mom “Bee.” Don’t let her drake feather fool you, Bee is elderly and has been experiencing hormonal issues since the beginning of this year, I’m actually surprised that not only is she not sterile, but that she managed to hatch Bramble and then go back to laying two days after she hatched Bramble after brooding his egg for 29 days. Weirdness must run in the family?

 

[Debbie292d]

Maybe someone will come along that's experienced this with their ducks, but I'm still a new duck owner myself. I just wanted to say Bramble is perhaps special as for a young duck to play with mom's eggs, then hide them, that just seems first, maternal, and second, very odd, but cute. They are both just beautiful!

 

[EggzactlyRight]

I don't own ducks myself, but I asked someone who is more experienced with them because I got really curious after reading your post.

According to my friend, who has been in love with ducks and anything duck-related since he was 4, Bramble's broody behavior is unusual for a drake but not unheard of. Sometimes male ducks mimic female behaviors, especially if they’ve been around hens or mainly other females. His actions might be instinctual, or he could be socializing and bonding, picking up nurturing behaviors from those around him. Young ducks (and most other birds) often go through quirky stages as they grow up, and Bramble might be mimicking females before his hormones kick in. As he matures, he’ll likely become more drake-like, but it's not impossible to think that he might keep some of those softer, nurturing habits.

Either way, Bramble and Bee are both adorable! ​

 

[Goosebaby]

I don't own ducks myself, but I asked someone who is more experienced with them because I got really curious after reading your post.

According to my friend, who has been in love with ducks and anything duck-related since he was 4, Bramble's broody behavior is unusual for a drake but not unheard of. Sometimes male ducks mimic female behaviors, especially if they’ve been around hens or mainly other females. His actions might be instinctual, or he could be socializing and bonding, picking up nurturing behaviors from those around him. Young ducks (and most other birds) often go through quirky stages as they grow up, and Bramble might be mimicking females before his hormones kick in. As he matures, he’ll likely become more drake-like, but it's not impossible to think that he might keep some of those softer, nurturing habits.

Either way, Bramble and Bee are both adorable! ​

So far he hasn’t been accepted by the older drakes or hens but his mother adores him so maybe he is picking up on her behavior.
Her behavior is also unusual because in the past she didn’t like ducklings, she would brood but once the babies hatched she regarded them as some sort of monsters that ate her eggs and would attack them. This year for some reason something finally clicked.

 

[Goosebaby]

Bramble sitting on Bee’s eggs.

 

[Yardmom]

My thoughts not backed by research Normally when ducklings are still following Mom the mom is not laying eggs. Since Mom is laying it gives a behavior to mimic that most ducklings don't experience.

 

[Goosebaby]

My thoughts not backed by research Normally when ducklings are still following Mom the mom is not laying eggs. Since Mom is laying it gives a behavior to mimic that most ducklings don't experience.

That is interesting!