First time eggs

[mixedUPturk]

I don’t see a green head either. Not sure if that has something to do with time of year? They sure a beautiful ducks!

Thats right

A mallard derived breed would have a green head forgot about that

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I posted about first eggs and the fertile, bullseye a few days ago. It includes pictures. Here is the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/normal-first-eggs.1294569/#post-21053148

 

[blayt90]

Thanks for the pic i dont see any 'drake feather' thats when the tip of their tail curls upward by this age that should be an indicator. You dont want to leave your eggs outside to freeze. If theyre tryn to sit on a nest theyll be laying the eggs in the same spot and laying onto of them flat as a pancake. They might be mean trtn to defend the eggs. Theyll simply lay and ignor the eggs if theyre not tryn to hatch them.

Those look like rouens. If they are 7 months old now not old enough to change colors just yet. And if that picture was taken in November they would be 4 months old at the time. The males don’t get the curl feather till later. Unless I am mistaken on time line. Start listening for a difference in their voice. If they sound the same both females if different one female one male.

 

[blayt90]

I don’t see a green head either. Not sure if that has something to do with time of year? They sure a beautiful ducks!

My males keep their green heads all year.

 

[QuackInn]

Thanks for the pic i dont see any 'drake feather' thats when the tip of their tail curls upward by this age that should be an indicator. You dont want to leave your eggs outside to freeze. If theyre tryn to sit on a nest theyll be laying the eggs in the same spot and laying onto of them flat as a pancake. They might be mean trtn to defend the eggs. Theyll simply lay and ignor the eggs if theyre not tryn to hatch them.

Thank you! Would they each lay eggs in their own spot? The 3 eggs I have found were all in the same spot. I thought each duck would lay in its own spot.

 

[blayt90]

Thank you! Would they each lay eggs in their own spot? The 3 eggs I have found were all in the same spot. I thought each duck would lay in its own spot.

Sometimes they will lay together.

 

[QuackInn]

I posted about first eggs and the fertile, bullseye a few days ago. It includes pictures. Here is the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/normal-first-eggs.1294569/#post-21053148

Thank you!

 

[PirateGirl]

Your best bet is to listen to their voices. If they both make all the same noises then you have 2 girls!

As others have mentioned, males will get a drake curl, but the lack of one doesn't always mean female, depending on age and time of year a drake could be missing his curl; mine was missing his curl for about 4 months after molt. Most breeds of ducks CANNOT accurately be sexed by bill color. Since they are young, males also may not have any distinctive coloration.

If you collect all eggs, and you get two new eggs on the same day, you have two girls! They often will share a nest, but not always.

You can eat the eggs, fertile or not, just collect them daily to be sure they are fresh. No one wants to eat rotten eggs

Enjoy! Duck eggs are amazingly delicious. I'm currently only getting one a day from my 5 girls and I can't wait for production to pick up!

 

[QuackInn]

Thank you everyone for all the great information and advice! Being a novice is tough!! Nice to have all this help!

 

[blayt90]

Thank you everyone for all the great information and advice! Being a novice is tough!! Nice to have all this help!

We were all novices at some time so we know where you are at and how you feel. This is a great hobby and journey. Just beware of the duck/chicken math. You will keep wanting to add to your flock. I know it hit me hard. I went from 4 to 19.