Observation on the Rearing Behaviour of the Domestic Duck

Abstract

During the observation period over about two years, eleven instances of the natural incubations by six female domestic ducks were observed. In two instances among them the hatchings and rearings were performed successfully.
In the first case, five ducklings were hatched from among twelve eggs on the 31st day after the joint incubation by two female ducks (Khaki Campbell race) started. Then two females successively engaged together in the rearing. In the second case, a hybrid female duck hatched out a duckling from among eleven eggs on the 30th day of the incubation. She received a one day-old duckling hatched by a bantam as a foster on the second day of the rearing. She reared thereafter this duckling similarly to her real duckling, though the former differed from the latter in body color.
The call exchanges between mother and ducklings were frequently observed from the first day. Ducklings called back mother through their high-pitched distress calls and stayed near the nest within 24 hours after the hatching.
It was observed that the mother remarkably displayed rhythmical motion of wings and tail and the loud quack several days after the hatching.
Up to about tenth day of the rearing, the mother led her brood unfolding her tail feathers and calling low. She threatened and attacked the other ducks whenever they came close to her brood.
Mother-duckling relationship dissolved nearly about 40th day after the hatching. But the defense reaction by the mother for captive duckling was maintained until about 60th day of the hatching.
It was thought that the auditory stimulation played a major role in achieving the communication between mother and duckling. When the duckling was caught by a assailant, however, its visual scene might be significant stimulation for the mother's reaction.