Pekin: Late Puberty?

[HntrInTheWoods]

So, my Pekin is at 26 or so weeks, and I was pretty stoked that she'd be laying eggs soon. A few days ago, one of her tail feathers curled up. Kinda worried me a bit, but she'd only had one feather like that before that'd scared me, and as soon as she ruffled her feathers, it fell out. Just this morning, I went into the coop, and egged her on, until she pulled her head back to let out a big honk, and it came out as though she'd been up all night smoking. I grabbed her, to feel along the neck to see if there were any obvious obstructions, and even checked for a stuck egg, but neither were the case. While I had her, I gave that curly feather a soft tug, and it was firmly placed. Is it possible that my Pekin was loud as hell, and had all the traits of a female, and then just suddenly hit puberty, now, at 26 weeks??

A little background, "Aflac", the Pekin, was hatched alone, and then grew up with two americauna hens. At around 18 weeks, I added another three female ducklings(Mallard, Welsh Harlequin, and Cayuga). Aflac started quacking quite a bit louder, as to show dominance, and pecking order, and ever since I've heard them all trying to top eachother in how loud they can be. In the last few weeks, Aflac has quieted down a bit, and let them all try to top eachother.

 

[chickens really]

Hens Quack....Its a loud clear quack...Drakes can honk but sound raspy...Post a picture if you can?...Pick it up and walk off with it, Hens quack loud if you take them away from the flock...

 

[HntrInTheWoods]

Hens Quack....Its a loud clear quack...Drakes can honk but sound raspy...Post a picture if you can?...Pick it up and walk off with it, Hens quack loud if you take them away from the flock...

Yea, it was quacking very loudly before this, and sounded like the audio files I'd found of a Pekin hen quacking. It doesn't quack when leaving the flock, but it quacks loudly(err.. used to quack loudly) when it hears me, and when I leave the coop. Can't post a current photo, with the newly sprouted tail feather, as I'm at work. will try to remember to snap a photo when I go home.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

So, my Pekin is at 26 or so weeks, and I was pretty stoked that she'd be laying eggs soon. A few days ago, one of her tail feathers curled up. Kinda worried me a bit, but she'd only had one feather like that before that'd scared me, and as soon as she ruffled her feathers, it fell out. Just this morning, I went into the coop, and egged her on, until she pulled her head back to let out a big honk, and it came out as though she'd been up all night smoking. I grabbed her, to feel along the neck to see if there were any obvious obstructions, and even checked for a stuck egg, but neither were the case. While I had her, I gave that curly feather a soft tug, and it was firmly placed. Is it possible that my Pekin was loud as hell, and had all the traits of a female, and then just suddenly hit puberty, now, at 26 weeks??

The curled feathers in the tail may be and indication that your duck is a drake. Can you post a photo?

We got 2 ducklings and both are males. lol

 

[HntrInTheWoods]

Yea, "she" ended up being a he. Lol. He always looks so disappointed when trying to be as loud as he once was. Too much smoking as a teen, I guess. Lol.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

My mother spotted the boys in their pool. One was trying to mate the other. Since they are being raised with the chickens, they stick close to them most of the time.