Duck #2

[desertdarlene]

The raspy voice is a big clue to drake, especially at that age. The curl usually is seen after they molt into their adult colors at four months. I've seen white strips on both males and females.

Check out the mallards on this page. You will have to scroll down:

http://www.hunter-ed.com/wildlife/waterfowl.htm

 

[Speceider]

That phamplet clearly shows the white on the tertial coverts on the duck and the lack of white on tertial coverts on a drake.

Clint

 

[desertdarlene]

You're right, it does, but it's not obvious at first. Both wings have a white strip, it's just that the female has a few extra feathers that have a white strip.

 

[Speceider]

Guess when you've used it to sex and age thousands of mallards, your eyes immediately pick it up lol.

Clint

 

[desertdarlene]

I've done thousands, too, but I've never noticed that small thing. Usually bill color change and voice works for me as early as 2 weeks.

Sorry, my mistake for getting too comfortable around this site again. My bad. Sorry I came back.

 

[Speceider]

It also works for Mexican ducks and mottled ducks. Using the shape and wear on the tertal coverts will allow separation of hatch-year and after hatch-year birds.

Clint

 

[Lacrystol]

Ok, so Easter weekend was a success. We were nervous about leaving Scuba here at our house while were out of town, but she did great! We learned that she is terrified of being in the dark, so we left our backyard lights on for her. We had the hose on, dripping water into her bucket, and it was obvious that she gave herself a bath or two in it while we were gone We came home last night and she was just chillin' in her bucket. She still had her water and food half full (in her house) and there was still water in the bin that she was sitting in. We put a few shavings in the house so that it reminded her of her old box. Here's the pics:



Hey yall! Like my new house?

The baby duckies went out of town with us, and have grown a lot just in the last 4 days. Its nuts! The one with the little pink anklet is Dora...the name came from her first hour of being at our house. She decided to get up on her stuffed animal, jump out of the box, explore the room, go under the bed, and wedge herself between the wall and a box. So that adventurous one is named Dora. The other one is currently being called "No Name", but she loves to cuddle and follow Dora... she is very quiet too!


Dora (standing) and No Name (hiding).

Today they are 8 days old, so they'll be introduced to the paint tray bath (supervised, of course)! We think we will introduce them when they get a little bit bigger and less likely to get hurt by a scared Scuba.

Wait until they are about three week, they start to get there adult feathers in and man it seems like the steroids just KICK in, they grow soooo quickly.

 

[thesmiths]

We are going to get that picture soon. Today was a sunny, low breeze day with a high of 81. I just got home and went outside to see Scuba and she appears to be panting like a dog... I thought they regulated their temperature once they have their adult feathers?? We are going to put her in a cool bath (inside) as soon as my husband gets home. I draped a towel over her water tub to keep it cool, and she is now sitting under it...

 

[Speceider]

Gular flutter is one method they use to regulate their temperature. Because they have feathers does not mean they can not overheat or chill, just that they have a broader range of temperatures they can tolerate.

Clint

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does her pen have shade over it? they need to be able to get out of direct sun on very warm days.