Help w/muscovey color/sex ID? (new pics in post #1)

[satay]

It is hard to tell from that photo but my wild guess would be 2 females and a male. The lilac looks males to me from that angle.

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Ok folks - new pics added to post #1!!! Anyone care to change their guess???

 

[Bleenie]

The Lilac & Chocolate both look like Drakes!

 

[satay]

The chocolate and the barred look drake from the new angles and the lilac looks female. Is one smaller than the other 2?

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Quote:
I have studied and studied these ducks and honestly, I don't see any real size difference in them at all. Sometimes the lilac looks just a teeny tiny bit shorter in body length, but nothing thats THAT noticeable - and other times, the lilac looks the same as the other two (it depends on position). Their heads, feet, legs, bodies, etc... are all the same size and shape - the pied had the longest flight feathers at last check, but both the barreds aren't too far behind - they developed pin feathers at the same rate.

Would shots of their wings (opened) help?

 

[satay]

I have a couple of muscoveys girls that are young but older than yours. Will take a couple of pictures so you can see how they compare if that helps.

 

[satay]

Ebony

Ash

I'm not sure how old they are now i am guessing 5 months or so.Excuse Ashes tail she is molting.

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Uh-oh - mine have WAY longer tails than your girls do.... Guess I better start thinking of some new names!!! LOL!

How old are they when the caruncling starts becoming more pronounced?

 

[swheat]

Quote:
Uh-Oh Did you say longer tails.....Boy names I would just think of some new names but not give them to your duckies just yet. Their tail could just look longer because their wing have not fully developed yet.

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Ok, will recall the names and put them on hold, and think of alternatives for males.... Crap.... LOL!!!

I know with chickens sometimes, you have to wait til they crow or lay an egg to know for sure what sex they are - of course, if any of my muscovies are hens, an egg would be a positive indicator for females, but with nothing else to compare these three to, what is the first positive indicator for males? And if they're ALL males, will I be able to keep them together? The plan WAS to let them free range with my chickens, but maybe I'll have to change my plan?