Why is my duck burping?

[Lilki]

My mallard drake does a sort of grunt whistle. I know it's related to mating. I'm not sure if he's trying to attract my hen, or he's orgasiming, or what. Drakes makes strange sounds.

 

[shortgrass]

I have the same thing happening to my ducks. They all started doing it around the same time. I think somewhere near the age of 4 months old. I have a hard time thinking it is puberty because I have four different kinds of ducks and they would mature at different times. I thought it was perhaps a response to a change in the food or a supplement that changed the PH of the body. So in addition to the symptoms you listed, I would say, their breast is puffed up and they look uncomfortable. They also race around a short distance after doing it. I just know it is not good whatever it is. I wish I knew more about about ducks and chemistry. It is coming to winter and It is not easy being uncomfortable in the cold... Perhaps too much grain, or soy, or lead poisoning from hoses or galvanized steal?? Perhaps we can all put our heads together and find a common denominator. I have both male and female doing it. The females are more of a chirp and seem less bothered.

Well, it IS a change in something; they're called hormones

4 months is right about "puberty" age for ducks, and no matter what breeds are in the mix, if one duck is feeling "Randy", then he/she is going to get everybody else all rowled up lol... The makes will bounce and Bob heads, puff up, grumble..the females will flap and preen and quack, everybody gets all territorial over food all if a sudden etc etc etc... (Males also " puff up and race around" after a mating attempt or successful encounter)


Reminds me of a frat house or a high school dance with all the ruckus and odd pheromone induced crazies.

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

We should start a dumb ducks utube channel

 

[shortgrass]

We should start a dumb ducks utube channel

Lol can we add geese? I have an awesome vid of a goose falling out of our camper Geeseccan be even dumber than ducks!


On the "burping" duck...I had to bring this up to my DH, who is the duck expert in our house. He knows the sound that we're discussing very well, I guess... "It's the equivalent of a crow or egg song in duck speak." I can vaguely recall when they go from the chirping duckling phase into the adult duck quack phase, they have a period of "voices cracking" similar to that of prepubescent human males...


They're trying to talk grown up duck things

 

[Ravynscroft]

My Other Half calls it the 'Bumblebee', lol... and then the 'Victory Lap'...

 

[jacquelyn4653]

For now, I am going to calm down about them burping, but I will try to get a video for you all to view. Thanks for all the responses and reassurance. I just figure it is my fault somehow and they dont appear to be too comfortable... Can it actually be the pains of vanity

 

[jacquelyn4653]

I will try to get a video. Some days are more often than others. Thanks for the reassurance. I will try not to be so suspicious.

 

[quackers619]

Calm down. It's probably just a mating thing. They just act stupid in front of the girls, and they think theyre being totally cool. It like "Waaah, lookit me puff up so big an go runnin, chicks, er, ducks"
Now I'm guessing the girls wave their heads around diagonally, and make a "kah eh kah ehck eck" machine gun noise too?
Different breeds of ducks mature at different times, and it might just be a spectacular coincidence. If they are active, eating, friendly and alert, walking normally, and mating as usual, you have nothing to worry about.

See if you can get a vid though. We can start a duck afv.

Edit: remember, ducks have the original down coat. They also have a very high body temp(duck chemistry fact: ducks body temp is around 100). They are warmer than you might think.

My drake does it all the time for the ladies and i guess they find it attractive and i find is funny

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

Lol can we add geese? I have an awesome vid of a goose falling out of our camper Geeseccan be even dumber than ducks!...

I'm trying to catch my ducks sliding on the iced over pools. No luck so far

For now, I am going to calm down about them burping, but I will try to get a video for you all to view. Thanks for all the responses and reassurance. I just figure it is my fault somehow and they dont appear to be too comfortable... Can it actually be the pains of vanity

Yep most definitely. Drakes are unbearably vain.
Do get us a video please, it will be good for lots of laughs

 

[jacquelyn4653]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to thank you all for your help with my burping ducks. I resisted it for a few minutes but saw they were burping to impress the girls. And come to think of it, when I had to isolate a duck for bumble foot, he didnt burp at all. Unfortunately, the whole flock is now struggling with bumble foot Thanks again!