ducks

[squeak1387]

at what age do pekin ducks start to lay? and how can you tell a male from a female?

 

[NYRIR]

I'm not sure about when they begin to lay...mine are not there yet,either.But the genders? My male pekin has a raspy voice and a drake feather.The female is louder and no drake feather.

 

[lilchicklets2]

Drake feather? Is that what the curled up feather on their bum is called? My female is way louder then my drake. So who ever yells at you the loudest is your female

 

[squeak1387]

if thats the case then i think i have 2 males and 4 females. one of them i think is crested because she has a poof on her head, has since i got her as a ducklings. i think they are all around 1 1/2 months now. but they have grown so much it is crazy. they are bigger than my laying hens.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

I am not sure in general, but my Pekin hen started laying around 4.5-5 months old. Some people have said their ducks started much later.

Girls have a more typical "honking" noise, while the male's voice is quieter and more raspy. The drake feather, if their old enough to have them, is a sure sign of a male.

 

[NYRIR]

Quote:
Yep...that would be the curly "bum" feather!

 

[Rosebud 18]

Mine started laying at 5 1/2 months old.

 

[squeak1387]

thats cool so they should start laying about the time my chicks start laying

 

[Duckville denizen]

When you hear a loud, distinct "Quack," you can be sure it's a female. The drakes sort of mutter, in my opinion. Does that sound a little like us humans, too>

When they are old enough, the drakes will have the little curl at the end of their back. I have heard, however, that some older hens will start having a drake's curl, too. Must be something like us older human females getting chin whiskers.

 

[knightie]

Thats good to know.... I got 3 ducklings today and from looking at pictures they look more like white pekin babies than the others (I'd have liked a colored one or two but I want eggs and will use the adults for herding practice with my acd) Hope to heck and back that I got more girls than boys! <g>