help! I can't tell if these Welsh Harlequin ducks are male or female

[ak rain]

They are older now

I'm thinking 3 Drakes and 1 duck.

 

[Amiga]

They are older now

I'm thinking 3 Drakes and 1 duck.

You know that when there are more drakes than ducks, that once they hit sexual maturity, she could be injured or even killed? I don't know how to say this delicately. I just don't want you devastated and her harmed.

 

[ak rain]

No worries I'm trying to set my mind to what I have. We'll eat the drakes. Should I keep 1? I don't keep roosters either.
I never tried duck.
Ak rain

Am I seeing right? 3 to 1??

 

[subhanalah]

You can't really guess gender at this point.
It can seem to flip flop several times before they get their final adult feathers.

 

[rockin4x4s]

Can anyone help me figure out if I got a drake & hen?

 

[Amiga]

Welcome!

Do they both quack loudly, or are their voices different - one quacks, the other whasps?

http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/artquacks.htm

 

[rockin4x4s]

Thank you. I just went and picked them both up so they would talk to me. And I got one loud hen and one quiet drake. I am so happy I can't thank u enough for posting that link and posting that fast. I will have babies next year. One happy gal right here.

Thank you again.
Now for my chickens lol.

 

[Amiga]

A word about drakes - many of them can get too enthusiastic about mating, so they need more than one female. Otherwise, her health - and sometimes her life - is at risk. A the same time, there are some cases where a pair works out well. I want you to be aware, be watchful, and ready to intervene if she is having problems with him.

 

[rockin4x4s]

Thank you for the heads up. I would like to have more lady's for him. I was going to start with the 2 and keep ssome of their babies. I'll keep an eye on them. If he gets to nasty I'll go get more. I know with chickens it's 10 hens to a roo. Is it the same for ducks?

 

[Amiga]

The numbers I often see are three to six females per drake.