Does my duck have a DSD condition or is she actually a male?

[SixBabies]

Got them all from Metzer Farms known for vent sexing them and being some of the best vent sexers.

Lupita(“Duckita”) (Golden 300 Hybrid) was the only duckling who started having failure to thrive at a couple days old. We gave her cooked plain egg yolk, moved them all to a much bigger enclosure after that, and gave them all some extra egg yolk and wormies (meal worms) for a few days and she recovered for sure!

Still a tad wheezy sometimes compared to the others, vet hasn’t noted anything during her checkup. I know that ducks have ZW and ZZ sex determination and that this weird coloration could be potentially due to failure to thrive in the past and some other health concerns.

Should I worry about her being potentially infertile? Eggbound? Other health concerns?
Or is she actually not a she after all?

None of them have drake feathers, they are all just about 7.5 weeks old right now.

She did seem noticeably more dark/ more black than dark brown in her patterning -than I’m seeing when I watch old Metzer Farms videos talking about sexing them too before, though. Most of the female golden 300 hybrids look paler, and she also seems to be developing differently to either that I’ve seen as adults.

Does she just need more time to cook? Just special nature genetic environment combo?

When should I expect to see drake feathers on any of them or know when that might pop up? I did get them all sexed female but sometimes things slip through the cracks.

Really worried about the ratio now- ideally didn’t want a drake I don’t mind eating fertilized eggs but my boyfriend doesn’t want to and also has voiced he is extremely sensitive to the nature of how violent duck mating can be (in much less forum appropriate language).

Not sure about Sylvia(“Duck-Duck”) (Silver Appleyard) and Emily(“Duckily”) (Rouen) but they don’t seem too far off and all are quacking.

I’m pretty sure I’ve heard Dukita quacking but she is one of the quietest of the bunch. Very calm mostly. Her quacks aren’t quite quacks yet but they aren’t raspy either just very quiet. One of the only ones who doesn’t fuss at all when I grab her or put her in the pen, also seems the most stress tolerant out of all of them so maybe she’s just got a funky coloring and super great personality?

Also pic of Emily the supposed Rouen of the group, and Sylvia the silver Appleyard.

Duckita’s feather stripe is looking quite bold blue…

 

[cheezenkwackers]

So, I would say that Dukita is your Rouen and Emily is your Golden 300. That is why Emily is so brown and not like a Rouen. Female Golden 300s would not have blue speculums either. Now, whether Dukita is a male or female Rouen is hard to tell from the pictures. A video of it making noise would help

 

[KathiQuacks]

I agree with cheezenkwackers, I’m thinking you may’ve mixed your duckies around.

I don’t see anything that screams “male” yet in any of your ducks. You should certainly be able to tell by voice now. You can upload a video of voices elsewhere, like to YouTube, and link it here.
I would say your Rouen (actual Duckita?) is female, as her bill is pinkish & black. My male Rouens all had their olive bills at this age.

You start to see noticeable plumage change in males at ~9 weeks of age, and I found mine to get their drake feathers at 13+ weeks.