constant quack

[Mini Moe]

Why does my 8 week old, female Rouen constantly quack? Im almost ready to re-home her because of it. I live in the city, which allows us to have ducks as pets, and the quacking wouldn't. Be the problem but it is constant almost throughout the day. What can I do to get her to quack less? Please....Ive had her and her male hatch mate since tbey were day-old and I just love but its gotten to where im worried the neighbors are going to get upset. It only started a little over a week ago.

 

[Amiga]

She could be hungry, anxious, too warm, too cold, starting to feel her adult hormones . . . .

Could you tell us a little more about her environment and routine?

 

[ChicagoDucks]

Why does my 8 week old, female Rouen constantly quack? Im almost ready to re-home her because of it. I live in the city, which allows us to have ducks as pets, and the quacking wouldn't. Be the problem but it is constant almost throughout the day. What can I do to get her to quack less? Please....Ive had her and her male hatch mate since tbey were day-old and I just love but its gotten to where im worried the neighbors are going to get upset. It only started a little over a week ago.

I've got city ducks too, and I really try to keep mine quiet. Like Amiga said, a happy duck is often a quiet duck.

A lot of ducks go through a loud phase when they are 8 to 12 weeks of age, or so. If you have the basics covered (ample food, clean water, shade to get out of the heat, a secure area to rest, etc), then you may want to try some distractions:
- Spread peas all over the yard, so they have to go hunting for them.
- Turn on the sprinkler and let them play and drill for bugs
- Sacrifice a corner of your yard as a mud puddle and let them play in the mud.
- Freeze some peas into a block of ice and put it in their pool and let them peck at it & push it around until the ice melts.

 

[Mini Moe]

WOW....whar awesome suggestions. We have a very large backyard thats devoted to the ducks. They have 3 pools (2 sizes of kiddy pools) with the 2 largest ones having hay ramps plus easy exit stones, a sprinkler area as well as a muds area. They have 1 area if shade by a tree, shade cloth in part of their pen, a wooden shaded structure as well as our porch/deck area that has an easy-u. We turn on one of our hoses on the edge our deck so they can dibble away at the dirt/mud there. At nights they come indoors while their house & pen are being made. I think I have all the basis covered that also includes kale, butter leaf, romaine leaf, tiny squash salads, meal worms on occasion to search /for plus watermelon as a treat. The only thing I could think of would be the hormone thought.

 

[jak2002003]

Mine would quack a lot if something was upsetting them or they thought they were in danger.

They would stand still and look around.....or walk about agitated looking from side to side.....always quacking.

Check they are not getting spooked by something like a dog, cat, or neighbours washing blowing in the wind.

Also they liked to quack if they got lost.....on their own. They called to the flock to come back.

Also she may like to have a box, or pile of straw, to go hid in, just in case she is looking for a place to start nesting.

 

[melissamerry]

When my two girls hit the age of hormones they quacked up a storm, night and day. I also live in an urban city with neighbors real close. I went and talked to them and brought them some tasty duck eggs to appease them. I explained to them that they were just going through a phase.

My two girls settled down after a few weeks and now they only quack when
A. they want their food dish full or clean(er) water.
B. they want to go for a walk or be picked up
C. the weather is changing. When we have windy days, nothing will shush them up.

I have such spoiled little ducks, but they are surprisingly quiet!

I did notice that when we go on our walks they run straight for bushes and ferns to "hunt" and so I purchased some foliage for our patio. They were wildly entertained with the new greens and that kept them real quiet.

 

[Mini Moe]

Maybe I'll plant a few bushes for them. She would quack while laying with the other duckys next to me on the porch. There is definately a difference on how she quacks when she's spooked and when shes just hanging out. There doesnt apprear to be any thing thats spooking her, shes got two fresh containers of fresh water, a feeder full of food and none of my ducks like to be held and we've had them since they day old. Ive always been gentle when ive picked them up, making sure they were well supported but would much rather wonder around. Thanks again for all your advise and imput. I knew this was the place to go for any questions about our duckys.

 

[ChicagoDucks]

WOW....whar awesome suggestions. We have a very large backyard thats devoted to the ducks. They have 3 pools (2 sizes of kiddy pools) with the 2 largest ones having hay ramps plus easy exit stones, a sprinkler area as well as a muds area. They have 1 area if shade by a tree, shade cloth in part of their pen, a wooden shaded structure as well as our porch/deck area that has an easy-u. We turn on one of our hoses on the edge our deck so they can dibble away at the dirt/mud there. At nights they come indoors while their house & pen are being made. I think I have all the basis covered that also includes kale, butter leaf, romaine leaf, tiny squash salads, meal worms on occasion to search /for plus watermelon as a treat. The only thing I could think of would be the hormone thought.

With a yard that awesome, I think the solution might be......MORE DUCKS!!!

 

[Going Quackers]

With a yard that awesome, I think the solution might be......MORE DUCKS!!!

LOL! i think mallard derived can just be noisy , you should hear my calls! heck even my buffs are chirpy and they are only young. You sound like a lovely environment, it could just be a learning our voice is fully here time, ducks just aren't quiet, on the whole.. they have times of it but it's their form of communication and ladies are chatty in general fortunately, i doubt they'd be worse than most dogs in neighbourhood i have heard.

 

[Mini Moe]

Thanks again for everyones advise. When I purchased my first pair of Pekin day-old babies, I knew going into it that ducks do quack in general and they did but it was ok and manageable. Now that we have a few more and have had ducks for almost 4 mos, the quacking has never been a problem but its just within the past week 1/2 that our Huey girl has started quack excessively and loud at that. I guess I wanted to make sure I wasnt missing a ducky life cycle that would cause this. We love her and will try and keep her happy & heathy until someone complains. Thanks again my ducky forum friends.