Flock dynamics

[Canadian Wind]

Beautiful Ducks!!!! How do you keep them from trying to fly off? I thought my Mule Duck being huge could not fly and it got up to 6' the other day so it got a good one sided feather clipping. It hasn't tried since.

Thank you! Honestly, I don't. I haven't clipped their flight feathers and several of them CAN fly quite well. I know I'm tempting fate, but I just can't bring myself to doing it. It's mostly some of the juvenile females, but a few of the young drakes can get a few feet off the ground too.

How were you able to sex them so young. Mine had to show themselves as drakes when it came to my Mules as they had no red on their faces and feet and leg were all the same size. They are all soooooo pretty!!!!

I could be very wrong, but I go by size at this age. At around this time, there's a difference between the males and females, slight but it's there. And then I look at their feet and their overall 'look'.

It's difficult to tell on other's pictures (or even my own sometimes!). These are guesses I'm making.

It's probably much different with the Mullards!

 

[Luv Ducks]

Thank you! Honestly, I don't. I haven't clipped their flight feathers and several of them CAN fly quite well. I know I'm tempting fate, but I just can't bring myself to doing it. It's mostly some of the juvenile females, but a few of the young drakes can get a few feet off the ground too.



I could be very wrong, but I go by size at this age. At around this time, there's a difference between the males and females, slight but it's there. And then I look at their feet and their overall 'look'.

It's difficult to tell on other's pictures (or even my own sometimes!). These are guesses I'm making.

It's probably much different with the Mullards!

It really is because the one that I thought for sure was a Drake was my only Hen. I thought I had two Hens and a Drake and it was the complete opposite. The Hiss and male parts gave them away finally. It took 4 months before they showed themselves.