Quacking Issues. Help?

MallardMomx2

Songster
5 Years
Mar 2, 2019
162
618
212
Ohio
My Coop
My Coop
I have a 7 week old mallard drake who has been attacked by his dad and had a majority of his feathers plucked out. He is separated and on the mend now, but that’s not the issue I’m posting about. He’s obviously a very nervous duck due to the trauma he’s gone through, and doesn’t like when you get too close to him. When he gets scared instead of quacking, he will let out this strange noise that kind of sounds like he’s choking. Is this normal? I wasn’t sure if he was making these noises because 1. Hes so scared he can’t get his quack out 2. Being 7 weeks old, he hasn’t grew into his quack or 3. It has something to do with his injury.
I also might add he is 100% not choking, he has water deep enough to clean out his nostrils, and I have not personally heard him actually quack yet. Why is this happening? Thank you in advance for the help!
 
He is hissing at you. This is the sound that they make when they feel threatened and do not want you coming near them. The poor baby is scared to death which I'm sure is because if the recent attach. I would offer him some treats from your hand to help regain his trust.
IDK but I bet that Jbently is right! That is one scary noise he's making! There are lots of people other than me that need to chime in like @Jpat @Miss Lydia @casportpony @Cayuga momma
 
Definitely hissing. As was said above they do this when they feel threatened and don't want you near them. I would give him some treats and maybe just sit with him several minutes everyday and give him treats from your hand. Even tho he is scared this is a great time for you guys to bond...take is slow. Hope he is feeling better soon and that he starts to trust you!
 
Oh my poor baby. I had no idea ducks hiss as my other ducks are big babies and love attention. Thanks you guys for the help!! He’s had a really tough week getting attacked, being separated from his mom and siblings, and being put in a coop all alone (the day of a HUGE thunderstorm that I’m sure scared him half to death.) I’ve been giving him treats all week long, so far no luck with him getting close enough to eat out of my hand, but we’ll get there! Since the thunderstorm, he hasn’t came outside on his own, he’d rather stay sitting in a nesting box inside the coop all day. Do you guys think I should leave him alone to do as he pleases or get him outside for some outside time? The last thing I want to do is traumatize him anymore than he already is. @Jbently28 @DuckyDonna @happy duck
 
I think separate him will do the trick. He will change his behavior as he gets used to being alone or hopefully with female. I had that problem with peacocks. I don't know what the sound means it's probably that he is not in his own pen. Give it time I'm sure he'll get better
Good luck
 
I'd put a sibling in with him preferably a female just in case another young drake may want to take advantage of his situation. He really needs another duck right now to feel secure. I've never used Mazuri since I have a mixed flock but Purina Flock Raiser is a very good feed for ducks and ducklings. Mazuri is excellent feed for water fowl. @CrystaBub I believe feeds it to her ducks.
 
I'd put a sibling in with him preferably a female just in case another young drake may want to take advantage of his situation. He really needs another duck right now to feel secure. I've never used Mazuri since I have a mixed flock but Purina Flock Raiser is a very good feed for ducks and ducklings. Mazuri is excellent feed for water fowl. @CrystaBub I believe feeds it to her ducks.
All of his siblings were male. I have since rehomed all of them and don’t have a lady to put in with him. I only have him, his mom, and his dad:(
 

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