Do Pekin/Muscovy mixed drakes have DRAKE feathers?

Hi,

I have two Muscovey drakes and tomorrow I am going to a farm to pick out four hens to go with them. The guy says he has muscovy/pekin mixes and that he has seven hens to pick from. I know that their eggs won't be fertile, and I am fine with that. I just want company for my two drakes. Question is, will the Pekin/Muscovy mixes have drake feathers if they are male? I don't know alot about them. The ducks are supposed to be 4 months old. He sent me a pic of one of them, and it is a mostly front on view, but it looks as if one of the tail feathers is curled. Should I be worried it may be a male? I DON'T need any more drakes! LOL I need to know how to tell for sure I am getting all hens.

Thanks. I am still learning about mules and hinnies, etc. and I currently do not know if the dad or mom was the muscovey and which was the Pekin. The pic he sent me looks alot like a muscovy, but the head is almost green, and doesn't have any caruncles on it at all.

Oh, also, can this mixed bird fly like a Muscovy? I think I read somewhere that Pekins don't fly. That woud be nice if these didn't. I want them to stay around.



I am trying to put in the pic he sent me. Hope it works as I have never done this before! LOL

Thanks everyone!
Kathy
Merritt Island, FL

Looks like a drake but Im not a expert on ducks.

My mallard or roun crosses( I wasn't sure if I had mallards or Rouns) never did , but the male I crossed them with was muscovy, I wonder if that mattered. Also we never let them age to more than 5 months, so maybe that is to soon for their tail feathers to come in?

Seems simple enough to me, If it has a drake feather don't take it! since only drakes will have drake feathers. However if it doesn't have a drake feather that isn't proof that it isn't a drake. Consider the size, the larger birds are more likely to be drakes in any breed.

I guess the next question then, is, does the duck in the picture have a drake feather? Is that what that curled tail feather is? Or, is it just regular plummage if anyone can tell? I am very new at this drake feather business.

I guess if they have any curled feathers at all, I will just assume they are drakes. Hmmmm..

Thanks everyone!
Kathy

If s/he has more muscovy like feet take a look at them. If they are big it is more than likely a male, if they are dainty and little it is more than likely a female. So look for small ducks with small feet. A muscovy hen should not be more than 6-7 pounds.If it is a male he wont take off , male muscovies are to heavy too fly,only females can take off. But that can be taken care off with a wing feather clip. This duck might still get some caruncles , scovies get them as teens.

No they won't have a drake feather. My crosses never did. They both [mand f]will be quiet like muscovies and usually too heavy to fly. I would pick the ones with small feet and that are the smallest size if they are all the same age. If you see red near the beak[some have a little bit showing the heritage], it is more likely to be a male .
Good luck !

Quote:
MY Muscovy drakes can fly, not well, and not without lots effort but flights 5 foot off the ground and 50 feet long were common.

Quote:
MY Muscovy drakes can fly, not well, and not without lots effort but flights 5 foot off the ground and 50 feet long were common.

my drake just falls with style. He hops up the steps to the backdoor, opens his wings and takes off.....and crashes down about ten foot away. But one of my girls took off once.She flew cross the neighors house. Now i keep the girls super clipped.. I cut all the wing feathers.

Aren't mule ducks sterile??