I can hear my ducks breathing out - is this normal?

[Liza728w]

I have three 8 week old call ducks. When I get really close to them, I can hear them breathing out of their nostrils... On the exhale, it ALMOST sounds like they are *pushing* air out their nostrils and there is a pause before they do so. I can't explain it well... does this sound pretty normal? I've never been up close and personal with ducks before I hatched out these guys. I just want to make sure they are safe and okay. All three of them do this so I'm leaning more on the side of "it's probably normal".

 

[Isaac 0]

Sometimes ducks will sound loud when they breathe, especially heavyweight breeds like Pekins, I've never noticed my calls doing it, but then again they don't let me get too close to them so it'd be hard to tell. Are you providing the with a deep water dish for them to play in during the day? What's your setup like?

 

[nao57]

If you put out enough water for them to dunk their heads in it, it will give them a chance to clear out their noses. (This behavior is very noticeable, and they'll do it a whole bunch of times in a row.)

That may help. And if its not that then at least you'd be able to move on to the next thing down the list to check.

This is also why you want to practice reading their temperatures and checking their temperatures. If they are sick then their temperature will be off, from their body trying to respond.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

How close is close? Is your ear right by their bill close or a couple feet away close? If your head is right by their bill then yes it's normal. If you're a couple feet away then no.