Duckling Size Discrepancy

[harmonymw]

Is this an okay difference in size for ducklings from the same hatch? They are 8 days old.

 

[harmonymw]

The runt is acting normally, eating crumbles with a bit of garlic and drinking water with ACV in the morning, baby vitamins midday, and avia somethingsomething thats greenish black overnight.

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

Is it possible that mom mated with multiple males? Waterfowl can have multiple paternity like cats.

http://www.ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-research-science/extrapair-paternity

 

[harmonymw]

That is super interesting!

 

[harmonymw]

By same hatch I just mean they’re the same age and breed and were purchased together from the same lot of ducklings at a local farm. They were all pretty much the same size at one day old, so I’m wondering if this is slower growth or an acceptable variation.

 

[CayugaJana]

They are like humans in this aspect. Big, little, and anywhere in between. All the same age. There’s a chance the bigger one is a male but time will tell.

 

[harmonymw]

They are like humans in this aspect. Big, little, and anywhere in between. All the same age. There’s a chance the bigger one is a male but time will tell.

NOOOOOOO I can’t deal with any more surprise drakes. These are all supposed to be baby girls.

 

[harmonymw]

If I get another drake I’m going to have to start taking them over to the Amish.

 

[CayugaJana]

I don’t see anything alarming if you are wondering about the tiny ones health! They are going to be soooo soft and squishy when they grow up!

 

[CayugaJana]

NOOOOOOO I can’t deal with any more surprise drakes. These are all supposed to be baby girls.

If you ordered all girls then they probably are! It’s just always my first guess. I had a Pekin female that was 2X the size of her sister this spring. They are both doing just fine!