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Aquired two young ducks - breed/sex help?

post #1 of 6
8/2/12 at 6:07pm
Thread Starter 

Hi all,

 

I brought home two cute young ducks a couple weeks ago, and am curious about them.  It seems they have some muscovy in them (the red around their bills), but the rest is a mystery.  I'd also like to figure out their sex so I can make sure they have the needed boy/girlfriends.

 

Pictures:

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As always, suggestions are appreciated :)

 

Parker

Can't stop at just one species, breed, color... I'm happiest sitting in my bunny/bantam chicken pen just watching their world go round.  My Pinterest stuff: /http://pinterest.com/parkerfree/ where I show the randomness of my life and thoughts.  i  have a swap page full of good stuff: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chickens-come-and-chickens-go-swapping-stuff

Reply

Can't stop at just one species, breed, color... I'm happiest sitting in my bunny/bantam chicken pen just watching their world go round.  My Pinterest stuff: /http://pinterest.com/parkerfree/ where I show the randomness of my life and thoughts.  i  have a swap page full of good stuff: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chickens-come-and-chickens-go-swapping-stuff

Reply

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post #2 of 6
8/2/12 at 6:17pm

they look like Muscovy hens

5 Red Star, 1 Speckledy, 3 Col Blacktails, 3 White Star [Leghorn]  1 Amber Star - All Hybrid Pullets, 1 French Copper Marans - Roo, 2 Lavender Araucanas - Roos, 3 Cream Legbars - 2 Pullets & 1 Roo

 

Formerly Silverfox0786

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5 Red Star, 1 Speckledy, 3 Col Blacktails, 3 White Star [Leghorn]  1 Amber Star - All Hybrid Pullets, 1 French Copper Marans - Roo, 2 Lavender Araucanas - Roos, 3 Cream Legbars - 2 Pullets & 1 Roo

 

Formerly Silverfox0786

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post #3 of 6
8/2/12 at 6:26pm

Muscovy.  Sex is hard from pics.  Depending on their age, if they are 3 or more months I'd say hens, if not who knows.  Muscovy hens are very petite, drakes are large and there should be a noticable difference.

DOGS: 4 Shih Tzu, 1 Papillon, 1 Great Pyrenees

CHICKENS: 1 BO, 2 EE, 2 WLH, 10 blue and splash JG, plus various aged JG, BO, JG/BO and JG/EE chicks, and 8 meaties.   

DUCKS: 20 Muscovy ducks: 5 adults, 7 juveniles and 8 ducklings.  6 Pekin ducklings

 

Some threads started with basic info.

Picking a duck breed, where to buy, what genders to get

Raising and caring for ducklings

 

Reply

DOGS: 4 Shih Tzu, 1 Papillon, 1 Great Pyrenees

CHICKENS: 1 BO, 2 EE, 2 WLH, 10 blue and splash JG, plus various aged JG, BO, JG/BO and JG/EE chicks, and 8 meaties.   

DUCKS: 20 Muscovy ducks: 5 adults, 7 juveniles and 8 ducklings.  6 Pekin ducklings

 

Some threads started with basic info.

Picking a duck breed, where to buy, what genders to get

Raising and caring for ducklings

 

Reply
post #4 of 6
8/2/12 at 8:34pm
Thread Starter 

So not necessarily a mix then, eh?  Oh very nice.  These are young, but I don't know their age.  I'll keep watching - thanks!

 

Parker
 

Can't stop at just one species, breed, color... I'm happiest sitting in my bunny/bantam chicken pen just watching their world go round.  My Pinterest stuff: /http://pinterest.com/parkerfree/ where I show the randomness of my life and thoughts.  i  have a swap page full of good stuff: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chickens-come-and-chickens-go-swapping-stuff

Reply

Can't stop at just one species, breed, color... I'm happiest sitting in my bunny/bantam chicken pen just watching their world go round.  My Pinterest stuff: /http://pinterest.com/parkerfree/ where I show the randomness of my life and thoughts.  i  have a swap page full of good stuff: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chickens-come-and-chickens-go-swapping-stuff

Reply
post #5 of 6
8/3/12 at 10:43am

I agree that they are muscovies. I would say, from the feathering, that they are still young. The juveniles tend to get that barring on their chest feathers, and once they grow their adult feathers that will change to a solid color like the rest.

My guess would be 3-4 months old. If they are the same size, then they are the same gender. At this age, the males and females should be easy to pick out (unless they are the same gender). Do their legs look thick? If so, then they are drakes. If not, then 2 hens!

NOW NPIP CERTIFIED! Al's Quackery is a small duck farm in Southern Maine. I raise ducks, ducklings, geese, goslings and sell eating and hatching eggs.
Anconas (black, blue, lilac and lavender), Welsh Harlequins, Khaki Campbells, cayugas, black and blue runners (starting Fall, 2013), and muscovy (black pied, chocolate pied, buff, lavender, blue pied, blue fawn, and barred). American Buff, Tufted...

Reply

NOW NPIP CERTIFIED! Al's Quackery is a small duck farm in Southern Maine. I raise ducks, ducklings, geese, goslings and sell eating and hatching eggs.
Anconas (black, blue, lilac and lavender), Welsh Harlequins, Khaki Campbells, cayugas, black and blue runners (starting Fall, 2013), and muscovy (black pied, chocolate pied, buff, lavender, blue pied, blue fawn, and barred). American Buff, Tufted...

Reply
post #6 of 6
8/3/12 at 5:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by learycow View Post

I agree that they are muscovies. I would say, from the feathering, that they are still young. The juveniles tend to get that barring on their chest feathers, and once they grow their adult feathers that will change to a solid color like the rest.

My guess would be 3-4 months old. If they are the same size, then they are the same gender. At this age, the males and females should be easy to pick out (unless they are the same gender). Do their legs look thick? If so, then they are drakes. If not, then 2 hens!


Ok, thank you - their legs are not thick.   How pleasing!  2 lovely hens :)

 

Parker

Can't stop at just one species, breed, color... I'm happiest sitting in my bunny/bantam chicken pen just watching their world go round.  My Pinterest stuff: /http://pinterest.com/parkerfree/ where I show the randomness of my life and thoughts.  i  have a swap page full of good stuff: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chickens-come-and-chickens-go-swapping-stuff

Reply

Can't stop at just one species, breed, color... I'm happiest sitting in my bunny/bantam chicken pen just watching their world go round.  My Pinterest stuff: /http://pinterest.com/parkerfree/ where I show the randomness of my life and thoughts.  i  have a swap page full of good stuff: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chickens-come-and-chickens-go-swapping-stuff

Reply
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