Duckling ID/age

[haddlesh]

Hey guys! At the humane society I work at we just got in some domestic rescue duckling and I would like to confirm breed and age for supplementation/ heating purposes. We're thinking they're Welsh Harlequin and I'm guessing almost 3 weeks based on the feathering (see photos). Don't have a weight on them but I could get one if needed. Obviously need to vent to sex at this age, no biggie. Let me know what you guys think! Excited to be a part of this community (first post )

 

[ruthhope]

Hey guys! At the humane society I work at we just got in some domestic rescue duckling and I would like to confirm breed and age for supplementation/ heating purposes. We're thinking they're Welsh Harlequin and I'm guessing almost 3 weeks based on the feathering (see photos). Don't have a weight on them but I could get one if needed. Obviously need to vent to sex at this age, no biggie. Let me know what you guys think! Excited to be a part of this community (first post )


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Hello haddlesh and welcome to BYC!

I cannot answer your questiins about your 2 cute ducklings. However, i think an ambient temperature of 80F will be fine if they are sheltered from drafts and snuggle up together. Make sure the heatlamp is to the side of the brooder so that they can move to the side if they are too hot.. [They might be closer to 2 weeks than three, BTW].

I just want to appreciate your Chapter of the Humane Society and others that accept ducks/ducklings. My own doesn't--it only works with cats and dogs. Thus, we in St Johns County and elsewhere the Humane Society doesn't accept ducks have a huge gap in resources to meet our needs

Good luck rehoming these two cuties

 

[haddlesh]

Hello haddlesh and welcome to BYC!

I cannot answer your questiins about your 2 cute ducklings. However, i think an ambient temperature of 80F will be fine if they are sheltered from drafts and snuggle up together. Make sure the heatlamp is to the side of the brooder so that they can move to the side if they are too hot.. [They might be closer to 2 weeks than three, BTW].

I just want to appreciate your Chapter of the Humane Society and others that accept ducks/ducklings. My own doesn't--it only works with cats and dogs. Thus, we in St Johns County and elsewhere the Humane Society doesn't accept ducks have a huge gap in resources to meet our needs

Good luck rehoming these two cuties

Yeah it's a great place! We do wildlife rehab also so most of the ducks we get are mallards (some teals and wood ducks), but any domestics we place! They're currently in our duckling barn that has several pens and brooders dependent on the age/breed of duck with supplemental heat depending on that. I personally work in our other building with the mammals and songbirds so I'm not sure exactly what goes down there, which is why I dont have the exact details but I'm glad we take care of them too!

I'm looking into maybe adding them to my little flock, but all my ladies I got as 2 year olds and have yet to do the duckling thing so I'm trying to learn more for myself! 2 weeks makes sense to me, there's really no feather development at this point and they're maybe football sized?

 

[Canadian Wind]

Those are big ducklings, then! American football or rest-of-the-world (no offense everyone!) football? Either way, BIG!

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I have some 3.5 week old ducklings and they are a little further along with wing feathering
I would guess these guys are 2-2.5 weeks along
Mine stopped using the heat at 3 weeks
No idea the breed as I I only have Swedish , khaki , Pekin and mixed Pekin / khaki
They don’t look like mine so you can rule those out lol

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I would guess Golden 300 hybrid ducklings. They have the Mohawk like a Silver Appleyard but the wrong bill color. Golden 300s are a hybrid but they must have some Appleyard in them because they can have the Mohawk too. If they are, they are sex-linked and you have one of each gender.

 

[haddlesh]

Those are big ducklings, then! American football or rest-of-the-world (no offense everyone!) football? Either way, BIG!

Hmm I might not know my (american) football sizes that well then haha, can say I haven't picked one up in years. I realize theres nothing in the photos to give them a true size comparison but honestly the feathering is likely the best clue anyway as to age. Disregard the football comment

 

[haddlesh]

I have some 3.5 week old ducklings and they are a little further along with wing feathering
I would guess these guys are 2-2.5 weeks along
Mine stopped using the heat at 3 weeks
No idea the breed as I I only have Swedish , khaki , Pekin and mixed Pekin / khaki
They don’t look like mine so you can rule those out lol

Lovely! Thanks for helping with that and mentioning your heat situation too!!

 

[haddlesh]

I would guess Golden 300 hybrid ducklings. They have the Mohawk like a Silver Appleyard but the wrong bill color. Golden 300s are a hybrid but they must have some Appleyard in them because they can have the Mohawk too. If they are, they are sex-linked and you have one of each gender.

That makes a lot of sense actually! I always thought welsh harlequin didn't quite fit specifically because of the mohawk. The sexing at this age would be quite convinient too haha, thanks for the insight!

 

[ruthhope]

Hmm I might not know my (american) football sizes that well then haha, can say I haven't picked one up in years. I realize theres nothing in the photos to give them a true size comparison but honestly the feathering is likely the best clue anyway as to age. Disregard the football comment

Yes: it was the lack of emergent feathers that made me suggest nearer to 2 weeks than 3 weeks. Also, the shape of their little bodies and wings.

At 2 weeks 80 F works
By 3 weeks no heat lamp if inside and the temp is about 75. With a mama duck to keep them warm, if could be a lot less than 75 and they would be fine!!!