Ancona Ducks

[jenniferlamar70]

@learycow@minihorse927
Hi RavynFallen said you both might be able to help with my 8 ancona ducklings? They are 4 weeks old and all had pink beaks. Now all have turned tan except one. They one with the pink is for sure a female and has started quacking. Does the color of the beak have anything to do with the gender? I'm worried I may have 7 drakes..

 

[learycow]

@learycow@minihorse927
Hi RavynFallen said you both might be able to help with my 8 ancona ducklings? They are 4 weeks old and all had pink beaks. Now all have turned tan except one. They one with the pink is for sure a female and has started quacking. Does the color of the beak have anything to do with the gender? I'm worried I may have 7 drakes..

Bill color doesn't determine gender.
4 weeks is still too young to tell males from females so there's still hope you have more than one female

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Bill color doesn't determine gender.
4 weeks is still too young to tell males from females so there's still hope you have more than one female

Oh you just made my day. We have had some unusual luck and hatched so many roosters. I was worried when I saw their bills lol. By what age should the girls for sure be quacking?

 

[The Duck Ladie]

Oh you just made my day. We have had some unusual luck and hatched so many roosters. I was worried when I saw their bills lol. By what age should the girls for sure be quacking?

About six weeks

 

[jenniferlamar70]

About six weeks

Thank you so much.

 

[DancingWthDucks]

After reading all about this wonderful breed on this thread, I decieded that I would really love some. But now I've just discovered, despite the fact that they are from the UK there aren't any in the UK!

 

[minihorse927]

@jenniferlamar70, give them a solid 8 week before judging. Sometimes I've had some sqeauky ones I swear are makes suddenly develop a solid quack at the last minute. Usually 6 weeks is a good time frame but don't wrote them off till 8. I wouldn't get too worried yet. Some will start to change voices as early as 4 weeks as your one has.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

@jenniferlamar70, give them a solid 8 week before judging. Sometimes I've had some sqeauky ones I swear are makes suddenly develop a solid quack at the last minute. Usually 6 weeks is a good time frame but don't wrote them off till 8. I wouldn't get too worried yet. Some will start to change voices as early as 4 weeks as your one has.

Thank you I'll wait until 8 weeks for sure then. I want to keep as many as I can. Definitely feel bonded after hatching them.

 

[learycow]

Oh you just made my day. We have had some unusual luck and hatched so many roosters. I was worried when I saw their bills lol. By what age should the girls for sure be quacking?

8-10 weeks. Any earlier and its just a chance. Males can quack at the start of getting proper voices so they can easily deceive you!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

8-10 weeks. Any earlier and its just a chance. Males can quack at the start of getting proper voices so they can easily deceive you!

Lmao well that's good to know. We thought my daughters was for sure a girl but good to know that can change lol...