Umm, this may be a weird Q, but our Duckling is honking?

[aduckstolemyheart]

I know that sounds silly, but our two duckings, age a little over three weeks, have always made that little "chirp, chirp" noise. All of the sudden, our larger duckling, the Pekin, has started to make a soft honking sound overy once in a while. At first I panicked thinking he may be sick, it has only happened a couple times today and the rest of the time he seems perfectly fine, it's almost as if it's a new vocalization. Could this be his/her voice "changing?" Could it mean she is female? Or should I worry the baby is getting sick? This is my first time rearing ducklings, our male was already several months old and grown when we got him, so I am not familiar with this sound.

Any help is appreciated!!

And here's a pic just because, a repost but still cute!

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Oh and not sure if it matters, but he/she seems to make the sound when he's preening himself, and also I noticed he did it a few times while sitting on my lap getting dried off after his bath.

 

[flowerchicks]

I have no idea about his/her voice, but OMG, is it CUTE!!

...note to self.... dig a pond and get baby ducks and baby geese

 

[19hhbelgian]

Most likely just his voice changing

Does he normally "talk" when you hold him? They can make some pretty funny noises! Very cute!!

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Haha, I LOVE our ducks, however my one and only experience with Geese was not good lol. When I was about five, my grandfather had a huge male and he would chase you all over the yard trying to eat you! Every time he'd bite me he would draw blood. I was terrified to leave the house because I knew he'd be there waiting for me!

Thank goodness that even those moments when my drake gets mad and testy I am never afraid of him. I can usually take him to task pretty quick!

Thank you, btw!

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

I was hoping it was the voice change, the thought of him getting sick is not something I want to consider! I just had NEVER heard that kind of sound before from him, and it was alarming at first, cute, but scary!

He is very talkative as is, and is not showing any signs of being sick, seems very active, happy, no discharge, no sneezing or anything. Just this new, honk! I wonder if he is actually going to be SHE! lol

It helps to ease my concern a bit, I figured someone here would know!

 

[duckyfromoz]

So does this mean a name change is is order??? I sometimes hold off naming my ducklings until they are a month old - so I know for sure who is Daffy and who is Daisey- so to speak....

Hope that you end up with one of each

 

[Amiga]

At about that age, a few of my runners started to honk-peep, and honking is something they do quite a bit. They also quack, peep, and make rattly noises. They are quite the vocal orchestra, especially when they declare Duckie Mardi Gras at 2 a.m.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Duckie Mardi Gras, lmao! How appropriate! Thanks for the advice, I feel much better now! I figured it was normal, but wanted to make sure.

And as for the name change, we factored that possibility into the original name choice. We named it George, with the idea that if he turned out to be a hen, it would become Georgia! lol

We're hoping for hens, honestly, to mix better with our resident drake. The thought of two drakes and one hen..../shudder!

 

[Hattiegun]

Haaa Haaaaa. I have call ducklings about 5 wks old and one of them started to throw in this honkey / quackie
sound.. I call him/she my teenager.... it CRACKS me up everytime......