Sexing Rouen ducks by bill color???

[loprettaerin]

Only thing I can go by is the white ring on there neck for the males when they are young like 5-6wks. Although I have started to notice even as babys the males have a break on there neck in the black down going down the back of there neck and have been waiting to see if I can accurately sex with that. So far it has been working but want to see more proof before I will just go by that.

 

[maralynn28]

My Rouen is 6wks old as of Thursday...this is the baby at approx 2 wks

I was hoping to sex as a girl but the beak is noticeably lighter/yellow at 6wks old, also due to the voice change and I saw a tinge of green as the sun shone on HIM yesterday.

IT'S a BOY!

 

[loprettaerin]

Quote:
Also looks like it has the yellow in the down going all the way around his neck which will turn white would also indicate male.

 

[Rachel's Hobby Hatchery]

so when can you start looking at the markings to determine sex??? I have a couple of babies that are 3 days old do I have to Waite longer or can I tell now?

 

[Paganrose]

So far my experiance has been that bill color is a pretty good determiner of sex when the first real feathers come in about 6 to 9 weeks, generally all the ducks get female colored feathers first, then at about 4 months the males get thier color in. I had 6 rouens last year, and currently have 3 of thier babies that are all about 10 weeks. It seams that all would be female by thier beak color.... but one might be a boy juding by it's behavior and voice change (but it is also a week older too)

 

[kinchchicks]

I noticed a white ring on my drakes neck first, and then the billturned green along with some green on the head! They are about 2 months now.

 

[kinchchicks]

Also, he whistles instead of quaking! So cute!

 

[dartfreak75]

I have two rouens I'm not sure what they are yet they both have dark bills hope I lucked up and got one of each

 

[kada6305]

I have 3 Mallard ducklings and they all have darker. I'm not 100% positive what I have yet as they are only a week old but I'm pretty sure I have 1 drake and 2 hens.

 

[LindenLady]

Hello. Just curious. I've been seeing a lot of bill color advice on BYC. We purchased these at Rural King on May 1st. Not sure how old they were. Can anyone give me a guesstimate of age now based on that info and current feather state. Also, are you able to guesstimate sex at all based on bill? I'm having a hard time decifering each individual voice. Thanks for any help! ;-)