Bitey Biters
We get a lot of emails from new duck owners who are upset when their ducks turn into aggressive biters. Ducks bite. Especially drakes. Hand-raised drake ducks can bite a ton, and it hurts. Muscovy drakes have a ridge on their beak that makes the bites even worse. They bite because they love. This is one reason we never recommend ducks for families with dogs or kids. Even if your dog would never chase your ducks, your duck will chase your dog! Here O’Malley demonstrates his persistence in wanting to bite me. This was one of his calmer moments.
P.S. I love this duck. He is a lovable biter and he’s my good buddy. He just reminds me a little bit of Hannibal Lector.
7 Comments
What an adorable little dinosaur he is.
I never had a biter until I adopted a 3 year old pekin boy in January who was raised alone. Now I’m covered in bruises. He’s a sweetheart in his own way but painful too. I suggest that people never raise a single duck – those raised with a buddy are not normally biters. But that’s just my experience and you can always have a duck who surprises you, of course. If anyone is considering getting a pet duck, search out lots of information first. Tiff has good info on this site for people thinking of getting a pet duck. Be sure to read it and ask questions of people with ducks.
The incessant tail-feather-wagging is just adorable.
Bites because he loves, eh? I wonder if that’s why Peepers the Satanic Conure bites me. Or maybe it’s just because he’s a douche. (I love him but he’s quite douchey.)
But I love you. Why won’t you let me bite you? I love you. Let me bite your ankle. Why can’t I bite your ankle? It’s what I do when I love someone. Let me bite you.
Oh sure, Meg, that’s what Hannibal Lecter said to his last “dinner date.”
Our ducks were all raised together and didn’t bite until we started the daily ritual of feeding down by the creek. we feed in pans but will reserve food to toss out to them. Some will climb in our laps for attention which is cute (the geese do especially), but if we don’t toss the food out fast enough, one male pekin with a dark orange bill will come up and bite. We’ve nicknamed him Biter.
I have two cats that love to bite – love bites is what i call them. I can be sleeping soundly in bed and all of a sudden Wilbur has his mouth over the tip of my nose and HECK that hurts a lot. Then he licks it but i never know if he’s going to bite my nose again. Mandie likes to do her little love bites too but not on the nose. She’ll bite the front of your leg where there is not much cushioning. Cats have sharp teeth but i know it’s love bites and it is cute…..but painful at times.
Ducks have little sharp teeth. Cats have big sharp teeth. But it’s all about the love….. LOL