Delayed voice development? Can’t sex my flock

[Andirae76]

Hello all,

I have a mixed flock which currently includes Anconas, Welsh Harlequins, Pekins and Rouens. They are between 6 and 9 weeks in age. I have 1 Rouen and 2 Anconas that are quacking out of 9. The rest are not however they don’t appear to be making male sounds either. They almost still sound like they are peeping but with a wheeze.
I also think my other Rouen was quacking but since stopped and not sure why.
We just added 2 of the 4 Anconas this past week and they are supposed to be the same age but are way smaller and still have fuzz and haven’t fully feathered yet but they are quacking up a storm and we are confident they are girls. We suspect that our ducks overindulged and have grown a little too fast which accounts for the difference in size and maturity maybe? Would that in any way delay a quack or rasp from emerging?
Has anyone else experienced late bloomers with voice development or are we that unlucky to have 7 drakes out of 9 ducks and they don’t sound like boys?
One of the Pekin has a clear drake feather and one Ancona but all the others can’t really tell yet.



Guess I’m looking for optimism that I may have more girls than I think. I’ve done the duck math and that’s a lot of females I’d need to add!

One of our welsh I shared on another thread lost voice a few weeks ago and had laboured breathing. She was seen by a vet and got better after antibiotics but voice never came back. Wondering if it was an infection or aspergillosis that maybe affected all the voices? Just looking for answers thanks

 

[KaleIAm]

Maybe you could post a video and we could help?

I will mention that variations in voices and timing is normal. For example: I had a cayuga hen who didn't quack until about 4+ months old. Then she started shout quacking regularly. I also have a khaki campbell hen, who is 7.5 years old and almost never quacks. She usually peeps.

I had a welsh harlequin who had aspergillosis, diagnosed by a vet, and she lost her ability to quack. I don't completely understand, but the reasoning was something about the fungus pressing on her vocal area.

Edit: but aspergillosis isn't contagious

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Hello all,

I have a mixed flock which currently includes Anconas, Welsh Harlequins, Pekins and Rouens. They are between 6 and 9 weeks in age. I have 1 Rouen and 2 Anconas that are quacking out of 9. The rest are not however they don’t appear to be making male sounds either. They almost still sound like they are peeping but with a wheeze.
I also think my other Rouen was quacking but since stopped and not sure why.
We just added 2 of the 4 Anconas this past week and they are supposed to be the same age but are way smaller and still have fuzz and haven’t fully feathered yet but they are quacking up a storm and we are confident they are girls. We suspect that our ducks overindulged and have grown a little too fast which accounts for the difference in size and maturity maybe? Would that in any way delay a quack or rasp from emerging?
Has anyone else experienced late bloomers with voice development or are we that unlucky to have 7 drakes out of 9 ducks and they don’t sound like boys?
One of the Pekin has a clear drake feather and one Ancona but all the others can’t really tell yet.



Guess I’m looking for optimism that I may have more girls than I think. I’ve done the duck math and that’s a lot of females I’d need to add!

One of our welsh I shared on another thread lost voice a few weeks ago and had laboured breathing. She was seen by a vet and got better after antibiotics but voice never came back. Wondering if it was an infection or aspergillosis that maybe affected all the voices? Just looking for answers thanks

A video would allow us to more accurately say either way. However, from my experience the ones peeping with a wheeze are male. I can always tell my males from females starting at around 3 weeks due to that "wheeze" tone in their peep the males start to get.

 

[Andirae76]

A video would allow us to more accurately say either way. However, from my experience the ones peeping with a wheeze are male. I can always tell my males from females starting at around 3 weeks due to that "wheeze" tone in their peep the males start to get.

That’s what I was afraid of and hoping I was wrong . I will record some videos this weekend and upload, thanks!