Developing preferences for live female models of the same or other species in white peking ducklings

The preferences of white Peking ducklings (Anas platyrhynchos) for live models was evaluated for the first 7 days of life. The models were all females: a rouen duck (Anas platyrhynchos), a white Peking duck, and a blue Andalusian chicken (Gallus gallus). In three different experiments the orientation of the models was toward the subjects, away from the subjects, and toward the subjects but with fences around the models (to control for model aggressiveness). In all cases the subjects preferred the rouen duck and not the white Peking model or the chicken. In addition, when the models were facing away from the subjects there was a significant peak of preference that appeared on day 4. The latter effect was replicated three times and is therefore considered a reliable phenomenon.