Do I have a Mallard or a Rouen

[BackYard Sheena]

I bought this little fella (along with two Pekin ducklings) from TSC and they were not labeled. I have been putting a lot of time and love into our little ducklings and I am getting very attached to them.

I kinda assumed at first it was a Mallard because, despite all being the same size when I brought them home, it was growing so much slower than the Pekins but I figured I needed an experienced opinion.....


This picture was taken today, and it should be between 2-3 weeks in age.

Also, the 3 of them seem to getting along fine despite the size difference. Should this continue to be so or do I need to take any precautions as the pekins continue to get larger?

 

[Housemom408]

Looks like a rouen to me. I know they do grow slower than the Perkins. As fas as keeping them together I can't help. I keep my rouens with my Brahmas and haven't had a problem yet. However they are only 9 weeks old.

 

[BackYard Sheena]

Thank you

 

[cymbaline]

Here are my mallards at that age range...the pic on the left is closer to 3 weeks, the pic on the right just under 2 weeks. I chose these because there were things in the pic with them so you can tell about what size they are. I'm thinking your duck is quite a bit smaller than your Pekins, right? Rouens are more like Pekin-sized, and Mallards are much smaller (like football-sized when fully grown, lol)

 

[anniele27]

Looks Rouen to me! I have 3 Rouen and 9 pekin they were all about the same size until 3 weeks then there started to be a huuuge difference, at least height wise! But my pekins and Rouens get along great! They are about 5 weeks now and though the pekins are much larger I have yet to have a single problem, they all cuddle up and play together (adorably)!!

 

[BackYard Sheena]

Thanks everyone for the input I am really hoping for Rouen because it will break my family's heart if it flies away lol All of mine started the same size when I bought them (I thought they were less than a week old then but I am starting to think they might have been closer to under two weeks old since two are already going through voice changes) This particular duck has at least doubled, maybe even tripled in size since I've gotten it almost two weeks ago. Also I've checked the feet real good and can't see any tattoos and it has both hind toes which i guess most hatcheries take care of for mallards? I guess I'll know for sure if it surpasses the average weight for a mallard lol

 

[cymbaline]

I have had a lot of mallards, and honestly, to me it looks like a mallard. But it won't necessarily fly away; I had one that did, but it was because he was lonely, I believe (I had no other ducks at that time yet). I have 5 now, 4 of which can fly (one is too fat, haha), and they do fly, but never far. A lap around the house/yard at most, and I haven't even see them do that in months. I think they don't want to leave each other.
If you're really worried, you could always clip their wings. I've never tried it, only read about it, but it doesn't look too difficult.

 

[BackYard Sheena]

UPDATE: We have passed the 4 weeks in age mark and working on 5 and here are updated pictures. It is at the point where the blue is starting to come in on the wings. It has lost the second black stripe under the eye and has all sort of blurred into the same color. When it is by itself like in the first picture I feel like I have a rouen, because it's grown so much! But then it goes and stands beside the pekins and I think mallard because they are so much larger. So does anyone know by the size at this point which way we're going towards? It has the back toe and no tattoos on the feet so do I guess I need to start figuring something out if it's a mallard?

 

[fuzziecreatures]

My babies are the same age! I have 6 mallards, they look the same and we are getting voice changes, first one we named Quackers! Princess or Mr I don't know. It only does it when I get them out for their bath or playtime outside.

 

[desertdarlene]

Looks mallard and his bill seems to be turning green, which could indicate a male.