Evidence of the "duck hug"

[livingwithjane]

I posted about this before, but didn't have a video of it. Two of my ducks like to give what I call "hugs." They do it after spending time with me, and wiggle their tails afterwards. It seems like a very affectionate gesture. These two ducks are probably the ones that are closest and most trusting of me.

Is it a hug, or something else?

 

[HappyDuckie]

One of my ducks does the same, except when I'm holding her she puts her head next to my neck.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I posted about this before, but didn't have a video of it. Two of my ducks like to give what I call "hugs." They do it after spending time with me, and wiggle their tails afterwards. It seems like a very affectionate gesture. These two ducks are probably the ones that are closest and most trusting of me.

Is it a hug, or something else?

I hate to say this but I think it is a dominance thing. My old drake used to do the same, to me and the dog, but only if our backs were to him. I don't think it was out of love.

 

[KaleIAm]

Two of my three ducks do this, too. I've heard people saying it is a dominance thing. I'm not sure. Mine only do it when they want something from me, like treats. Usually their strategy to get treats is to charm me into it, not bully me into it. So... I'm not sure what it means.

 

[HappyDuckie]

I've got a little lovebug chicken that does it, though in a different way. I'll crouch to pet her and she comes real close and burrows her head in my hair then falls asleep. She also likes to come sit on my feet whenever I go out in her run.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I'm going to say it's one of those things that can be a gesture used for either dominance OR affection. For example a human can hug as a sign of affection, but a human can also wrap their arms around someone to hold them as a sign of aggression/dominance. Both are technically the same physical gesture of wrapping your arm around someone, but with very different meanings.
I think it's just the context of the situation that determines the purpose of the ducks behavior.

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

I agree.... it’s likely a dominant gesture. Mine used to do it to me real bad when I would be feeding treats, & they sometimes do it to each other. Ducks can be butts.