Duckling/egg Question

[June Chick]

So, how should I go about handling the ducklings my girl is going to have (they're due in approx. a week)? I don't want to take them all from her since she's been doing all the sitting, but I also don't have the time or space for 10 (or more) ducklings, so I'm going to be rehoming some.
Will it emotionally hurt her if I rehome them while they're small and young? I'm more than willing to keep 1-2 females (males will be separated from her to prevent further ducklings, so she'll need some friends). But how long should I wait before I take them from her?

 

[sylviethecochin]

The earliest you can sex a duck by its peep is about five weeks, in my experience. @Miss Lydia might be able to give you a more definite date. So if you want to take them when you can sex them, that should work.


Otherwise, take them immediately. The mumma duck will distract herself with the few ducklings you let her keep, and the ducklings will be much happier if they're not constantly looking for their mother. If you let them stick around for a few days, the ducklings will bond, and then they'll be very unhappy at being separated from her.

 

[June Chick]

The earliest you can sex a duck by its peep is about five weeks, in my experience. @Miss Lydia might be able to give you a more definite date. So if you want to take them when you can sex them, that should work.


Otherwise, take them immediately. The mumma duck will distract herself with the few ducklings you let her keep, and the ducklings will be much happier if they're not constantly looking for their mother. If you let them stick around for a few days, the ducklings will bond, and then they'll be very unhappy at being separated from her.

How soon can I vent sex them?
Okay, I'll leave 3 with her then, hopefully 3 females (I already have 3 drakes).

 

[June Chick]

When you say immediately, do you mean just after they hatch, a couple hours after they hatch, while they're hatching....?
Sorry for all the questions, I'm new to this and this clutch was an accidental bunch, as I have no interest in breeding.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I'd leave vent sexing to the professionals. You should do it almost immediately after they hatch, but you need training to see it. I've tried with chicks; it's very difficult and I couldn't figure it out at all.

I meant that I would separate as soon as they've fluffed. Sorry that I was so unclear.

 

[June Chick]

I'd leave vent sexing to the professionals. You should do it almost immediately after they hatch, but you need training to see it. I've tried with chicks; it's very difficult and I couldn't figure it out at all.

I meant that I would separate as soon as they've fluffed. Sorry that I was so unclear.

I've watched several videos and read on how to do it, and unlike chicks, male ducklings/ducks do have penis's, so they're much easier to sex. Do you still think I should leave it be? It looks and seems fairly easy.

Thank you!

 

[sylviethecochin]

I've watched several videos and read on how to do it, and unlike chicks, ducklings/ducks do have penis's, so they're much easier to sex. Do you still think I should leave it be? It looks and seems fairly easy.

Thank you!

Hunh. Learn something new every day. Never considered that drakes' penises would make it easier to sex them. I gave up after the chicks.

Go ahead and try--if you're careful, it shouldn't hurt.

EDT: And let me know how it turns out, please!

 

[June Chick]

Hunh. Learn something new every day. Never considered that drakes' penises would make it easier to sex them. I gave up after the chicks.

Go ahead and try--if you're careful, it shouldn't hurt.

Yeahhhh, drakes aren't very normal when it comes to their penis... Their in the shape of a cork-screw and it's really odd lol.
I've had my share of carefully sexing, never ducklings, but I've had tons of animals that I need to be careful and gentle about sexing, including hamsters and bunnies. They're not ducks, but you've gotta be really gentle and careful.

Thank you for your advice!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Yeahhhh, drakes aren't very normal when it comes to their penis... Their in the shape of a cork-screw and it's really odd lol.
I've had my share of carefully sexing, never ducklings, but I've had tons of animals that I need to be careful and gentle about sexing, including hamsters and bunnies. They're not ducks, but you've gotta be really gentle and careful.

Thank you for your advice!

I can sex bunnies easily. Even done Guinea pigs a time or two. There's just something about trying to get a vent to open that's always alarmed me--I feel that I'm going to hurt the chick, and so I'm too careful to actually do anything. When I do get it open, I can't see anything.

And yeah, Drake penises are right up there with turtle penises in "freaky."

 

[June Chick]

I can sex bunnies easily. Even done Guinea pigs a time or two. There's just something about trying to get a vent to open that's always alarmed me--I feel that I'm going to hurt the chick, and so I'm too careful to actually do anything. When I do get it open, I can't see anything.

And yeah, Drake penises are right up there with turtle penises in "freaky."

Hopefully I'll be able to see and sex the ducklings correctly. Good glory it was a mistake to search what a turtle penis looks like. We've had a turtle before, but it was my sisters and I didn't really pay attention to it, it was also a girl. Never again lol.