"Air Quack"?

[Nancyfaye]

Hi, I am a new owner of two Pekins,(3 months) and I've been "lurking" on this site, finding the answers to all my questions, without even having to ask them! However, I do have one that I haven't seen addressed, or maybe I don't know what it's called, but I'm calling it the "air quack" Occasionally they open their bills wide, but make no sound. They do it several times in a row. It is not panting. You can see some movement down in their necks as well. Both the male and the female do it, and they do it both in and out of the water. Any ideas?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could be they are adjusting their crop content. I know chickens do it, but I'm not sure if I've seen my ducks do it. I would assume any bird with a crop would do it on occasion.

 

[Nancyfaye]

Very interesting! Like they're moving their pebbles around to a more comfortable position, or something. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Grit and stones goes to the gizzard which grinds the food they eat. The crop is sort of a storage pouch for food before it gets digested. Sometimes they eat too much and they adjust the crop by raising the head, and swallowing.