A few questions...

[downsm75]

I am new to ducks and have questions. I have 2 I think are mallards and 2 pekin ducklings. I use my phone so I have no idea how to post a pic other than an avatar or on my profile. I want to know how long before they quack, feather and can I keep them with my chickens or not? They seem to get upset if they are in separate pens. Also, could someone tell me if the mallards are mallards? Any help would be awesome.

 

[Mum]

It's not easy to tell from your picture, but I don't recognise any as mallards

You could try searches Google images to get an idea of how Pekin and Mallard ducklings look and compare that to the ones you have.

How long before they quack? From my experience, between 4 - 10 weeks. Depending on the breed and the individual. However, drakes will not quack, just make a raspy noise.

How long before they feather? From my experience, around 3-4 weeks you should see feathers developing under their chest and you may also see feather shafts on their wings.

Can you keep them with your chickens? My ducks and chickens free range together but sleep seperately: ducks like it wet; hens like it dry. Also, some people on here have raised concerns that a drake may try to mate a hen (I have no experience of that!).

Do you mean the birds all get upset (when the ducks are seperate from the chickens?) or, when you seperate your "pekin" and "mallards"??

 

[Mum]

Ok, I've managed to post a larger picture of your ducklings so that others may be able to give you a better idea of their breed

 

[Buckhunter76]

I agree on that, I don't see any mallards, I see possible White Pekin and a Blue Swedish or Swedish ducks

 

[mandelyn]

If the white ones are Pekin, then the black one might be Muscovy, look at the size!

I keep my chickens and ducks separate, way too much work keeping everything dry and clean when mixed. The ducks are easier to care for when they have their own system for clean-up... like I have the water up on a wire platform, with a pan below, to catch the waste water. They get slightly different feed, cut with grower, so that the Drakes don't get too much calcium. Plus they're molting, so extra protein right now.

Quacks seem to start at 4 weeks, more noticeable at 6 weeks. First set of feathers all grown in by 8-9 weeks, then a pause, then they molt and get new adult feathers. This second set of feathers is when the boys get their drake feather.

 

[downsm75]

Ok, I have 2 of the brown and yellow. I bought them 3 weeks ago and they were aprox 1 week old. They no longer "peep" at all. They don't quack either. The 4 yellow ducklings are turning white and "peep" like crazy.
The brown and yellow ducklings want to be with the chickens. I caught one attempting to "roost" on a low stick.

 

[downsm75]

I just googled pics of mallard, sweadish and Muscovy ducklings. They look a lot like muscovy.

 

[Mum]

If they are muscovy, they will make a noise, but they are known as the quietest of the duck breeds (Calls being on the other end of the spectrum).

Aww, bless it, trying to roost: cute!

 

[downsm75]

Yes, lol it was cute. I wish I had my camera. The two are very quiet even when I pick them up.

 

[downsm75]

They also don't seem to care too much for getting wet. The 4 yellow, LOVE water.