Duck Sexing for a Newbie

[animalsroc4evr]

I'm going to our feed store either Thursday (25th) or Friday (26th) and getting 2 ducklings and 4 chicks. The only problem is the feed store has both male and female ducklings and they don't know which is which. I don't mind having 1 drake, as long as he will behave himself with the chickens as we will only have one coop, but I don't want 2. I'd much rather have 2 females, is there an easy way to sex ducklings for a newbie? I know you can vent sex them if you know what you are looking for, but I've never sexed a bird before. I read on here that with chicks you can look at their wings, is that possible with ducklings too?

I did have to sex a parakeet once by feeling the hip width, females have a wider space between hip bones then the males, which worked out for me, can you do the same with ducklings?

Any help is greatly welcome! Never owned any chickens or ducks so a very big newbie here

Gretchen

 

[duckyfromoz]

With young ducklings if you dont really know what you are doing mistakes can easily be made with vent sexing. I always wait to be sure from the voice and tail feathers before I will sell a "sexed" duck.

What breed of duck will you be getting?

 

[animalsroc4evr]

I'm getting Pekins, it's the only breed the feed store has, but they are SO cute and I've done my reading on them. I kind of figured it was going to be very difficult to sex them, but just wanted to see what others had to say...

Gretchen

 

[duckyfromoz]

Someone might be able to give you some good pointers on how to be a bit more accurate with it.. But I have only ever found I get about 60% accuracy vent sexing, so I just wait and see... I havent ever sold mine day old so have never had to rely on it - like you need to.

Good luck with the ducklings... I hope someone can help out ..But either way....there are gorgeous.

 

[tnchickenut]

If you are really good at attention to detail... females have raspy quacks, males don't.

 

[animalsroc4evr]

when do ducks get their quack or rasp? I know females Quack and males do a Rasp sound, but thought that they didn't start that til they were older. These ducklings will be any where from a few days to 2 weeks old, depending on if they get a new shipment of them or not.

If I do end up just chancing it, if I get to drakes will they be too much for 4 hens? These guys will be my responsibility, as all the animals here are, so I have to make sure everyone can live in harmony without any problems. I know there is bound to be a squibble or 2 but over all they have to be able to stay together without too much conflict. I mainly want ducks for pet purposes, as with the chickens as well (except the main reason for chickens is the eggs), but females or even one male one female would just fit better lol.

I was just hoping at that young age there was something other than vent sexing that I could do, I'm really afraid of hurting the poor things!

You guys have been SO helpful, thank you guys so much!

 

[ConchRepublic]

Quote:
It will take a while for any quacks or rasps to show up. They will be nearly fully feathered by then. Drakes can cause issues with chickens, specially peking drakes... We've had that problem with ours. The Peking drakes are made to breed and be meat ducks... and they are good at it. They will try to breed with just about everything. I would suggest getting a few ducklings (like maybe 4) and when they get old enough to tell the sex, get rid of males before they hit the mating frenzy age. That's about the safest way. Almost impossible to accurately sex ducklings until they are adults.

*edit* just noticed you are in north fl. Where about are you, if you're close enough we can sell you some ducks, we have a full grown peking female who needs to be babied lol, also have some mixed ducklings that are near adult age.

 

[animalsroc4evr]

I live in St. Augustine, I think your another 2 hours or so away from me... How much would you want for her and another duck? I want 2 so that they aren't lonely, I'd rather have 2 then have 1 lonely one... Anyways is she friendly? ever been with chickens?

The pen isn't going to be ready for them until next weekend or so, But I figured since they were babies they wouldn't need the pen for a little while.

if I can't get your ducks, I'm going to try to vent sex the ducklings, but If I feel a really can't I won't and I'll just pick a few and go about it that way, worse comes to worse we have to build a separate pen.

One other thing though, I read that females are louder than the males, is this true with the duckling peeps as well? might just have to hang around before picking my duckling lol