Ducks quacking LOUDLY when I leave

[BornToQuack]

Hi all,
Our three Runner Ducks are now three months old, and a few weeks ago they started quacking really loudly every time I leave the backyard or go inside the house. The worst is when I'm talking with a neighbor on the other side of the fence, because the ducks can hear me, but not see me. This seems to be a great offense, because they'll keep quacking on and off until I return.

When I go back into the backyard, they come running up to me, wagging their tails and doing lots of head bobs. Two in particular will get right up in my face and gently nibble my knees and hair (I squat down when greeting them). It seems like they genuinely miss me when I'm gone, but my question is:

Is the loud quacking as I'm leaving/when I'm out of sight their way of chewing me out for wandering away from the flock, or is it their way of calling out to "mama duck?"

They always have plenty of fresh food and water, so I doubt they're calling out for essential items. But if I'm part of their flock and/or "mama duck," will they ever grow out of scolding me for going out of sight?

P.S. I'm truly flattered that they WANT to be close to me all of the time, just curious if this is a phase .

 

[SkyeT]

I don't usually have the problem with my one quacker, Sunshine, being noisy when I leave (the rest are males that say wah-wah quietly or my trilly Muscovies). But I think that is because they are used to me spending a while outside sitting in my chair with them as they roam the yard and then settle under the bush. I go in when they settle, so that may have helped some.

It's when I come out that my ducks are noisy. They come running to the sliding glass door when the curtain MOVES. I open the door and the conversations begin. They run around my feet and follow me to the chair for their treat, all the while yapping about who knows what. I think part of it is a lecture on my absence, elation that I am there to talk to them, and happiness that I have treats. They will talk the entire time I am hand feeding them whatever is in my hands.

We've had our ducks since beginning of July. We keep the same routines as we did back then. Nothing has changed since then.

 

[Dandy's mom]

Hi all,
Our three Runner Ducks are now three months old, and a few weeks ago they started quacking really loudly every time I leave the backyard or go inside the house. The worst is when I'm talking with a neighbor on the other side of the fence, because the ducks can hear me, but not see me. This seems to be a great offense, because they'll keep quacking on and off until I return.

When I go back into the backyard, they come running up to me, wagging their tails and doing lots of head bobs. Two in particular will get right up in my face and gently nibble my knees and hair (I squat down when greeting them). It seems like they genuinely miss me when I'm gone, but my question is:

Is the loud quacking as I'm leaving/when I'm out of sight their way of chewing me out for wandering away from the flock, or is it their way of calling out to "mama duck?"

They always have plenty of fresh food and water, so I doubt they're calling out for essential items. But if I'm part of their flock and/or "mama duck," will they ever grow out of scolding me for going out of sight?

P.S. I'm truly flattered that they WANT to be close to me all of the time, just curious if this is a phase .

I don't know about a phase, but your babies have imprinted on you and call you mama. The loud quacking when you leave is a game of Marco-Polo. Not so much a scolding but kinda like taking your kids to school or day care that first time. They cry because you're gone. Baby ducks and mama ducks do this to find each other. My dandy (also an indian runner) does this if I leave the room too fast for her to follow. I simply quack back and she finds me and it stops. So it's definitely because they are looking for you. Hard to say how long it will go on, but if you have a regular schedule with them and routine, they should get used to it and might quack as you leave but not continuously, or if they hear your voice and can't see you, or even if they hear something that lets them know you are about to come out to them ie your car pulling up or garage door opening. Dandy will not quack if I'm in bed asleep. She just sits or stands there for hours quietly (or doing what I call duck murmuring) But once she hears my alarm, then she knows I'm getting up and will quack loudly until she can see me. As for the head bobbing, that's just love. They're telling you they love you.

 

[chickens really]

Yes, they call for you because they know you provide feed and free time ...

 

[BornToQuack]

Not so much a scolding but kinda like taking your kids to school or day care that first time. They cry because you're gone. Baby ducks and mama ducks do this to find each other.

Now I feel a little sad they think momma duck is abandoning them. It's hard enough dropping my preschooler off on mornings when he's being super clingy; now I have three feathered babies who are ALSO missing their "mama." I guess I should be happy I'm so loved?
As for schedules, I'm a stay at home mom ,so I'm around the house a lot, but I also do a fair amount of volunteering and running errands. Unfortunately that, along with my husband's rotating shift work, means our schedules can be a bit crazy. I do try to let the ducks out of their house in the morning/get them to bed at fairly regular times, though.

 

[CayugaJana]

I don't know about a phase, but your babies have imprinted on you and call you mama. The loud quacking when you leave is a game of Marco-Polo. Not so much a scolding but kinda like taking your kids to school or day care that first time. They cry because you're gone. Baby ducks and mama ducks do this to find each other. My dandy (also an indian runner) does this if I leave the room too fast for her to follow. I simply quack back and she finds me and it stops. So it's definitely because they are looking for you. Hard to say how long it will go on, but if you have a regular schedule with them and routine, they should get used to it and might quack as you leave but not continuously, or if they hear your voice and can't see you, or even if they hear something that lets them know you are about to come out to them ie your car pulling up or garage door opening. Dandy will not quack if I'm in bed asleep. She just sits or stands there for hours quietly (or doing what I call duck murmuring) But once she hears my alarm, then she knows I'm getting up and will quack loudly until she can see me. As for the head bobbing, that's just love. They're telling you they love you.

X2

 

[Cmp1979]

I have a female runner myself that does the exact same thing! Like you, I do find it flattering but I'm also afraid of the amount of noise she makes with the neighbors lol if I leave her for just a few moments to get water or a piece of watermelon for my ducks she quacks so loud. My other two pekings don't it's just her. She is very sweet and loves to cuddle and be held. See I raised them all since they were ducklings and I've kept them in the house. Now they are getting older I know it's time to transition them outside but part of me feels bad. I can't help but wonder will she quack like that once she is left in her coop outside? I don't know

 

[Dandy's mom]

X2

don't feel sad. just like kids, they're onto new ideas after a few minutes. As they get older, they should realize that they are in a safe environment without you and that you will come back.

I have a female runner myself that does the exact same thing! Like you, I do find it flattering but I'm also afraid of the amount of noise she makes with the neighbors lol if I leave her for just a few moments to get water or a piece of watermelon for my ducks she quacks so loud. My other two pekings don't it's just her. She is very sweet and loves to cuddle and be held. See I raised them all since they were ducklings and I've kept them in the house. Now they are getting older I know it's time to transition them outside but part of me feels bad. I can't help but wonder will she quack like that once she is left in her coop outside? I don't know

She will probably quack for a bit, until she gets used to being out there, but not for hours. When you leave, it's probably the same way. If your concern is your neighbors, not sure how close you are, but maybe simply asking them if they can hear her when she quacks. It will go a long way to keeping the peace if she does get noisy. It will reassure them that you aren't being an inconsiderate neighbor, you're just trying to work out the kinks. (AKA hopefully it's a phase) Asking them to let you know if there's an issue will go a long way. There might not even be an issue and you're stressing for no reason.

 

[Cmp1979]

Your right, I do worry they are like my kids. Especially her, she is such a sweetheart!

 

[BornToQuack]

If your concern is your neighbors, not sure how close you are, but maybe simply asking them if they can hear her when she quacks. It will go a long way to keeping the peace if she does get noisy. It will reassure them that you aren't being an inconsiderate neighbor, you're just trying to work out the kinks. (AKA hopefully it's a phase) Asking them to let you know if there's an issue will go a long way. There might not even be an issue and you're stressing for no reason.

Agree 100%! We live in a suburb with relatively small backyards, and I was really worried our neighbors would start seeing us as the people with the annoying ducks. Thankfully, when I've talked about our ducks with them, responses ranged from, "wait, you have DUCKS?? Can I/my kids see them?" to "You know, I thought I heard ducks, but I thought they were just flying by."
No matter what they've said, our neighbors all seem to think it's pretty cool we have ducks (chickens are far more common out here), and several neighbors stop by during their walks to see our ducks/give them special treats (they always make sure it's OK with us first).
I also always get a kick when I get odd stares from people walking/driving by when the girls are following me through the front yard. The going joke is that we've officially become too "weird" even for Portland!