drake? hen? help lol

[kidsnchicks]

How can you tell what you have? lol We got some ducklings last year and we are just wondering which they are? Is there an easy way to tell?

 

[gritsar]

They are adults now correct? Easiest ways to tell that I know of -
Listen to their voices. Duck hens have a quack. Drakes have a much quieter, much raspier hissing kind of sound.

Drakes have a drake feather(s). A curly feather just above the tail.

 

[kidsnchicks]

I thought there was a way to tell by thier sounds but I couldnt remember, I will have to try to study them a little better tonight when evening chores. thanks

 

[gritsar]

I thought there was a way to tell by thier sounds but I couldnt remember, I will have to try to study them a little better tonight when evening chores. thanks

Give me a sec and I'll run out and see if I can get a pic of one of my drake's drake feather.
The voice is easy for some, but not others. When my ducks were little I would be talking on the phone with a friend of mine (a call duck breeder) and she would tell me she could hear my drake. Drove me crazy because I couldn't hear what she could over the phone! I am hearing impaired, but even with my hearing aids in I couldn't distinguish it!

Once the drake feather showed up on my suspect, it was easy.

 

[gritsar]

And of course my drake Spot was sitting pretty, right up until the point when I pointed a camera at him.

Anyhow, here's the drake feather:

 

[pbjmaker]

I also hear there are videos on youtube that show you how to vent sex ducks and geese. Not sure how hard it is to sex an adult though - might stick with the voice and tail feather...

 

[pbjmaker]

Wait - what kind of ducks are they? Muscovies don't get drake feathers and you can't voice sex them.

 

[gritsar]

Wait - what kind of ducks are they? Muscovies don't get drake feathers and you can't voice sex them.

Oops, forgot about the scovies.

 

[pbjmaker]

Oops, forgot about the scovies.

I will send you some eggs this spring and you can learn how wonderful they are and QUIET.

 

[gritsar]

I will send you some eggs this spring and you can learn how wonderful they are and QUIET.

No thanks. Send me geese or none at all.