'Where Are They Taking Me?': Duck Duo Leads Mom Away From The House For Simple But Sweet Reason
Do you talk to your pet? If you're like most pet parents, your answer is likely, of course! But sometimes, understanding our companion's wants and needs can be challenging (like what your dog's tail is telling you). That's why successful interpretations can be super satisfying. Try this quirky one out for size: It involves a duck duo, a bucket of water, and a very perceptive mom — the end result is even sweeter than you might think!
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"My ducks came to the door to tell me something," said the TikToker who adorably greeted Goose and Chicken at the beginning of the video. She then asked, "Where are you taking me?" The two led her to a shaded area in the backyard where the TikToker interpreted that they wanted to lay eggs. But what did they need from her? Well, these ducks' mom sprang into gear with what seemed to be the perfect remedy: a bucket of water.
Goose and Chicken had some water and seemed quite satisfied after the fact. "Imagine being summoned by ducks for a landscaping consultation after they already performed a site inspection," joked one amused viewer in the comments. When asked how a solution came so quickly, the TikToker credited "paying attention to body language."
How do ducks communicate?
It's true, paying attention to body language is a generally useful way to help us understand our pets. But are there certain things ducks do to communicate that are unique to their species? How can we better understand these adorably quack-y animals? Well, if you want to understand duck behavior, quacking is a great place to start.
Duck quacks typically come from females and can communicate many different things, from marking territory to mating calls and even sounding alarms. Fun fact: human duck calling, or the art of mimicking duck calls, is a common practice for many experienced hunters. But this skill might also be useful to duck pet owners to better understand their pets.
Male ducks have much more subtle quacks and tend to speak up mainly around mating season. During this time, male ducks (or drakes) show off their colorful wing patches (or speculums) while doing the duck courtship call to impress females. Then, when ducklings are born, they will imprint, or develop a strong bond with their mother within the first day or so. Ducklings can imprint on more than just their duck mothers. In fact, learning how to imprint can be a good thing to know before adopting a duck as a pet, as it can help you influence its behavior and care for it long-term.