Duck Gender

[Smile4eeyore]

We recently purchased 3 straight run ducklings. 2 Pekin and 1 Rouen. They are 7 weeks old. The smaller of the two Pekins is definitely quaking, the larger Pekin and Rouen are still peeping. Do I definitely have two males and one female or do some females find their quack later than others? Other than size and quacks there’s nothing else distinguishing between the two Pekins. The Rouen has a green sheen to its head but it’s super subtle only visible in the sunshine but I’ve read that that can be unreliable until their adult feathers arrive.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

They go at different ages. I had one start quacking at 5 weeks and out of the same batch one still peeping at 8. You are just days away from confirmation.

 

[Quacking Pigeon]

We recently purchased 3 straight run ducklings. 2 Pekin and 1 Rouen. They are 7 weeks old. The smaller of the two Pekins is definitely quaking, the larger Pekin and Rouen are still peeping. Do I definitely have two males and one female or do some females find their quack later than others? Other than size and quacks there’s nothing else distinguishing between the two Pekins. The Rouen has a green sheen to its head but it’s super subtle only visible in the sunshine but I’ve read that that can be unreliable until their adult feathers arrive.

One of my muscovy drakes makes the adult hissing noises and the other cheeps a bit still. They hatched in September last year.

Also, can you get some pics of the ducks please? As I may be able to help you with the Rouens sex.

 

[Smile4eeyore]

One of my muscovy drakes makes the adult hissing noises and the other cheeps a bit still. They hatched in September last year.

Also, can you get some pics of the ducks please? As I may be able to help you with the Rouens sex.

Here you go, thank you for offering to help!

 

[Quacking Pigeon]

Here you go, thank you for offering to help!

I want to say that it’s possibly a drake due to the fact it has a black tail and it’s head colour, but I could possibly be wrong. I’ll try and find some photos of my Mallard drakes in eclipse plumage, but it is different to their juvenile plumage slightly.

 

[Table4Six]

Beautiful ducks. Rouen looks like a drake to me as well. If you haven’t heard quacking yet from the larger Pekin, I’d also say there is a high chance of it being a drake as well.

 

[Quacking Pigeon]

Found an image from like two years ago. It isn’t that good.

 

[Smile4eeyore]

So 2 Drakes is kind of worst case for us, I guess rookie mistake buying straight run. We have enough room for 5 ducks total. We have a 25 square foot house and about 120 square foot fenced area plus they have the yard to wander when are home. I really like the Idea of getting a couple Welsh Harlequins so if we got two more females is that enough females for the Drakes? I thought when we started this I would be ok with re homing if we needed to but I really like the personality of these two guys.

 

[Table4Six]

So 2 Drakes is kind of worst case for us, I guess rookie mistake buying straight run. We have enough room for 5 ducks total. We have a 25 square foot house and about 120 square foot fenced area plus they have the yard to wander when are home. I really like the Idea of getting a couple Welsh Harlequins so if we got two more females is that enough females for the Drakes? I thought when we started this I would be ok with re homing if we needed to but I really like the personality of these two guys.

Unfortunately, three hens is not enough for two drakes; the females would be over mated and potentially injured by the males. This would also cause regular fighting over dominance between the drakes. Standard rule is three hens per drake, however, I would highly recommend five to one drake. Best of luck with your ducks.