Determing the gender in Silver Appleyards

[Sunwren]

I have a few baby Silver Appleyard ducklings and was wondering about sexing them. It seems that about half are a lot more yellow then the others but didn't know if that means anything or not or if there is some other way to tell. I'm used to having Magpies where I can't tell their sex until their tail feathers start to curl but was hoping its easier with the SA's.

Thanks!

 

[Oregon Blues]

Color isn't going to help you. The quack will be the earliest indication of gender unless you know how to vent sex.

 

[tiffanya]

Yes, quack is the first way to tell. Color won't give you a clue until the drakes begin to darken around their eyes and bills (at about 10 weeks for mine).

 

[TarainNC]

i have a single appleyard ducking. WHich sex quacks and what does the other sex do? Mine is about 5-6 weeks old.

 

[mandelyn]

When the voice changes around 4-5 weeks, a girl will QUACK (you can grab one and start walking away with it to get a loud quack of protest if it's female).

The boys will do a mumble-mumble raspy talk, nothing loud. They just can't make that QUACK! sound.

If you offer food up and pause to listen while they eat, the girls will have a louder honking/nasal sort of mumbling while the boys will still be raspy.