Aussie Spot ducklings- What sex are they?

[mlward]

I have spotted australians also. They are my first and I hatched them 1 week ago. I am in the same boat with sexing and, for that matter, I don't know how to determine the blue, green and silverheads. They are darn cute!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yep sianara,

you have atrio there for sure now, bill color is a dead give away

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
beautiful ducklings

the green heads are the dark patterened "mallard" colored ones

blue heads are the same pattern with the faded out looking dark spots

silver heads are like the one in the back, naer all yellow with very faint markings

 

[sianara]

Quote:

(now to sell the pair...)

 

[sianara]

Quote:
What a pile of adorableness!

 

[sianara]

Quote:
beautiful ducklings

the green heads are the dark patterened "mallard" colored ones

blue heads are the same pattern with the faded out looking dark spots

silver heads are like the one in the back, naer all yellow with very faint markings

In looking at mlwards ducklings I can see the difference in the three colors but what about mine? Aubrey, do you still think all three are greenheads?

 

[mlward]

Quote:
beautiful ducklings

the green heads are the dark patterened "mallard" colored ones

blue heads are the same pattern with the faded out looking dark spots

silver heads are like the one in the back, naer all yellow with very faint markings

Ohhh, thanks! That helps alot. Now, to the sexing. Is there an age where vent sexing doesn't work? I thought I might try it. I have tried the voice sexing, but some of them just don't vocalize when I pick them up because they enjoy being held & petted. Little buggars! They are 2 weeks old now. And in the brooder next to their's, I have a pair of 3 week old bantam cochins. They keep jumping in & hanging out with the ducklings. Too funny.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
beautiful ducklings

the green heads are the dark patterened "mallard" colored ones

blue heads are the same pattern with the faded out looking dark spots

silver heads are like the one in the back, naer all yellow with very faint markings

In looking at mlwards ducklings I can see the difference in the three colors but what about mine? Aubrey, do you still think all three are greenheads?

I think so from what I can see, actually at their age, it's harder to tell than as ducklings, what color were the parents again?

That will help, as they can only produce certain colors from certain parents.

Easy way to tell would be to look at the black areas on them. If it is black, they are green heads, if it is a bluish grey, they are blue heads

here's how they breed , basically just like any blue gene in poultry (silver is really splash, 2 copies of blue)

green to green = all green

blue to green = 50% each

blue to blue= 50% blue 25% green 25% silver

blue to silver= 50% each

silver to green = 100% blue

silver to silver= all silver

if you know what the parents were, that will narrow down the possiblities

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
beautiful ducklings

the green heads are the dark patterened "mallard" colored ones

blue heads are the same pattern with the faded out looking dark spots

silver heads are like the one in the back, naer all yellow with very faint markings

Ohhh, thanks! That helps alot. Now, to the sexing. Is there an age where vent sexing doesn't work? I thought I might try it. I have tried the voice sexing, but some of them just don't vocalize when I pick them up because they enjoy being held & petted. Little buggars! They are 2 weeks old now. And in the brooder next to their's, I have a pair of 3 week old bantam cochins. They keep jumping in & hanging out with the ducklings. Too funny.

voice doesnt work too well til they are almost grown, they've got to get their quack on first and not tha baby peeps, but if they are very vocal when picked up, got a good shot at a hen, silent, male

vent sexing works at any age, though very hard as ducklings, need a bright light and sometimes a magnifying glass
after 10 days, anyone can do it if they try.
It's quick, easy and painless.

will be glad to walk you threw it if you'd like. At the older ages, it gets easier and easier as all the "boy" parts get bigger and pop out easier.
If they are 2 weeks, you shouldnt have any trouble at all. Once you see one, you'll be a master at it, just looks like a tiny flesh colored worm that pops out the vent.

Let me know if you'd like me to post the 101 vent sexing tricks on here.

 

[mlward]

Quote:
Ohhh, thanks! That helps alot. Now, to the sexing. Is there an age where vent sexing doesn't work? I thought I might try it. I have tried the voice sexing, but some of them just don't vocalize when I pick them up because they enjoy being held & petted. Little buggars! They are 2 weeks old now. And in the brooder next to their's, I have a pair of 3 week old bantam cochins. They keep jumping in & hanging out with the ducklings. Too funny.

voice doesnt work too well til they are almost grown, they've got to get their quack on first and not tha baby peeps, but if they are very vocal when picked up, got a good shot at a hen, silent, male

vent sexing works at any age, though very hard as ducklings, need a bright light and sometimes a magnifying glass
after 10 days, anyone can do it if they try.
It's quick, easy and painless.

will be glad to walk you threw it if you'd like. At the older ages, it gets easier and easier as all the "boy" parts get bigger and pop out easier.
If they are 2 weeks, you shouldnt have any trouble at all. Once you see one, you'll be a master at it, just looks like a tiny flesh colored worm that pops out the vent.

Let me know if you'd like me to post the 101 vent sexing tricks on here.

Thanks. I'm gonna give it a try. I tried, briefly, to flip one over and take a peek, but it carried on so much, I put it back down. *chuckle...* But, I won't be so easily deterred next time.