Behavioural characteristics of domestic ducks Dr Kula Prasad Kalita, PhD Professor Department of Poultry Science College of Veterinary Science Assam Agricultural University Khanapara, Guwahati Assam, Pin-781022 Ducks were domesticated some four thousand years back. During the long stage under domestication and generations of selective breeding ducks could not retain some of its natural characters. However, there are some fascinating and surprising facts about ducks behavior even under domesticated condition. Duck raisers needs to be aware of the behavioral characteristics of ducks so that eggs and meat can be produced with optimum efficiency and with concern for the welfare and well-being of the ducks. The behavior patterns of present day domestic ducks are discussed below for the benefit of growers Broodiness Broodiness is a condition in which females stop laying and show tendency for nesting. It is considered as an ideal character for the propagation of species in wild conditions, but highly undesirable for domesticated species of ducks because of economic reasons. Most of the domestic breeds have lost their brooding instinct, almost entirely during the long process of domestication and selective breeding that took place for the development of utility duck breeds. However, some of the ducks particularly belong to heavy type of breeds, may sometime develop the urge to sit on eggs, but they are always found to be unreliable and abandon the eggs after a few days. Because of the unreliability of most breeds of domestic duck at sitting their eggs and raising their young, and it has been the custom on farms for centuries to put duck eggs under a broody chicken for hatching. Nowadays incubators are usually used to hatch out ducklings.Broody ducks will soon get over from broodiness if kept away from comfortable sitting positions. Ducks can be aggressive at this stage and can inflict injury to anyone disturbing her. Preening Preening is an important behavioural pattern in ducks. Ducks are always found to be preening especially after bathing. After swimming ducks first carry out a variety of shaking movements to remove the water from their bodies. Then the ducks preens itself very carefully, to maintain the insulating property of its plumage.They have a preen gland known as uropygial gland located at the base of their tail that produces an oil. Ducks preen and distribute oil on the feathers. Frequent preening serves both to distribute this oil throughout the plumage and to maintain the interlock of the feathers. Preening makes feathers well greased, and this helps to keep water from reaching the skin. Preening is often followed by sleeping for a short period and the sequence of preening and sleeping may be repeated a number of times during the day. Intensively-kept breeders have no opportunity to preen effectively. It would be mistaken to assume that the lack of water for swimming has bred-out the instinct to preen. Given the correct conditions, ducks quickly revert to natural behaviour and keep pristinely clean, unlike the often heavily-soiled ducks