Duck Had 'Hard/Crispy' Windpipe

[WillJMA]

Hi Guys,

This morning was the time where my two Aylesbury/Moscovy ducks were to be 'dispatched'. After plucking i was removing the innards and pulled out the windpipe and voice box on one of my ducks and the windpipe and voicebox itself were hard, dry and 'crispy'.

When i squeezed it it cracked like an egg shell. Very odd. The other duck was perfectly normal.

I had noticed when the duck was alive and tried to quack it let out just a whispy breath. Anyone had any experiences like this?

 

[nhrocks]

Sounds like you discovered the anatomical difference between the larynx of males and females. Male ducks have that enlargment, and it is hard and crackly. The loud female quackers lack this feature.

I've only seen this in mallard derived breeds, not muscovies. Sounds like your hybrids inherited mallard anatomy.