Da' Cute and Cuddly Call Duck thread!

[minihorse927]

it really is a science. Didn't consider the yolk thing being an impediment. I forgot about it. I am not in a living situation where I can have ducks but I love them a lot and really enjoy learning from you very knowledgeable and experience folks. And as to rabbits? The gist I am getting is a male or do you call him a buck, has a hidden penis too? I mean, mammals, you see dogs', cats' and humans' male genitalia outside their bodies.

yes, rabbits keep their genitalia hidden when young. Males, once adults, will have extra, ahem, parts hanging

 

[Kaessa]

Fascinating. Wow. Thanks for sending it. It was interesting seeing the little male's reproductive anatomy and the female's too. I'll have to do some research and google as you suggested. So I guess this guy obviously ships these ducklings all over the US. And as for experience and not having any, I'd never ever attempt it. Never wanna hurt a sweet little duckling.

Thanks for the edit re chickens. From the sounds of it, it's ducks and geese. I wonder if it has something to do with them being water birds and mating in it. Will have to research.

Metzer is a great hatchery, a LOT of people here get there ducks from there. Including me.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Metzer is a great hatchery, a LOT of people here get there ducks from there. Including me.

X2

 

[casportpony]

 

Metzer is a great hatchery, a LOT of people here get there ducks from there. Including me.

X2

X3. They are great. I went there once and John Metzer showed me how to vent sex, but I still haven't mastered it yet.

-Kathy

 

[Amykins]

I don't try to vent sex calls until about a week old because they are so tiny. Larger breed ducks & goslings I can do at 2-3 days depending on the size of the baby. I really try not to do it right after hatch because I don't want to rupture the umbilical & yolk sac applying pressure before it seals completely. Sexing waterfowl is very similar to sexing rabbits. You are pretty much applying pressure the same way & looking for the same thing. If you can sex rabbits, you can sex ducks & geese.

^ This. The only reason I even attempted it is 'cuz I have experience doing it, and also have freakishly tiny hands! It was a real pain when I tried to play piano, but who ever knew it'd be a boon for this sort of thing. My momma would be so, so proud.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

^ This. The only reason I even attempted it is 'cuz I have experience doing it, and also have freakishly tiny hands! It was a real pain when I tried to play piano, but who ever knew it'd be a boon for this sort of thing. My momma would be so, so proud.

We know you did fine

I put up the info for Julie for pure knowledge, knowing she wasn't going to do it. And put up my warning, SilkieSensation added an additional warning. Just a lot of cautions for those who come after. Not to watch the video figure you got it and just try because a lot of things can go wrong including just being too slow and inverting the little fuzz butt too long. Can you imagine how competent the guy in the video must be? How many sexings / day would you figure he does? I know mine were all sexed and all correct.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I don't try to vent sex calls until about a week old because they are so tiny. Larger breed ducks & goslings I can do at 2-3 days depending on the size of the baby. I really try not to do it right after hatch because I don't want to rupture the umbilical & yolk sac applying pressure before it seals completely. Sexing waterfowl is very similar to sexing rabbits. You are pretty much applying pressure the same way & looking for the same thing. If you can sex rabbits, you can sex ducks & geese.

it really is a science. Didn't consider the yolk thing being an impediment. I forgot about it. I am not in a living situation where I can have ducks but I love them a lot and really enjoy learning from you very knowledgeable and experience folks. And as to rabbits? The gist I am getting is a male or do you call him a buck, has a hidden penis too? I mean, mammals, you see dogs', cats' and humans' male genitalia outside their bodies.

Yes, rabbits all look the same when young. The skin needs to be pulled back to expose the genitalia. Waterfowl are the same. If you wish to try vent sexing, my suggestion would be to try on a large breed duck (pekin, rouen, buff, etc.) at about 7-10 days old. Everything should pop out easily at this age & give a good showing of what to look for on the smaller babies. I learned by watching a breeder do it at a swap. It's not hard once you know how & wait for the baby to be big enough to easily manipulate without hurting it.

 

^ This. The only reason I even attempted it is 'cuz I have experience doing it, and also have freakishly tiny hands!  It was a real pain when I tried to play piano, but who ever knew it'd be a boon for this sort of thing. My momma would be so, so proud.  

We know you did fine

I put up the info for Julie for pure knowledge, knowing she wasn't going to do it. And put up my warning, SilkieSensation added an additional warning. Just a lot of cautions for those who come after.  Not to watch the video figure you got it and just try because a lot of things can go wrong including just being too slow and inverting the little fuzz butt too long.  Can you imagine how competent the guy in the video must be?  How many sexings / day would you figure he does?  I know mine were all sexed and all correct.

I can sex with 95-100% accuracy. There's always a chance a squirmy male will slip thru without revealing himself, but it doesn't happen often.

 

[Amykins]

I just wish Metzer sold call ducks! :/

 

[Tevyes Dad]

I just wish Metzer sold call ducks! :/

Nah, they don't do show quality ducks. Just good meat and potatoes ducks

It is just like everything else:

Cheap (relatively)
Pedigree
Easy (relatively)

Pick any two. Metzer is Cheap and Easy. They aren't Pedigree.
Hatch your own is Cheap and Pedigree. It isn't Easy.
Get your perfect little call already sexed. Pedigree and Easy but it ain't going to be Cheap.

 

[Julie Birb]

Metzer is a great hatchery, a LOT of people here get there ducks from there. Including me.

Good to know it's a great hatchery. The guy is amazing just watching him handle all the ducklings. I was envious he got to touch all the little fuzzlets. Not regarding the venting but during the sexing illustrating their coloring difference. Little boxes of peepers. But I felt bad when he shut the lid on all the babies for shipping. Are they ok for the meantime and do they get to their destination quickly?