Gender Confused Ducks

[Goldfire7]

Hello. I have two Buff Orpington ducks. I originally had 3 but one didn't make it. I had took their ID bands off before the one died so I don't know which one it was. I had 2 females and 1 male.

The story is that my two ducks have been taking turns "mating" with each other. This morning I turned their lights on and found an egg on the floor in a random spot.

One is bigger than the other, the smaller one has a black spot on the beak and is darker in color and less vocal. I am confused though because they have both been caught mounting each other. I have a video of them. They are 5 months and 1 week old.

 

[sylviethecochin]

http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/artquacks.htm

Males grunt, girls quack. I think I hear two girls, but my hearing's fairly bad, so you might want to separate them out and sex them by quack when you can only hear one of them at a time.

I don't see a drake feather, but buffs are not a stand-out color, and the resolution isn't super sharp. Drake feather means male or over-testosteroned female, usually of great age.

Taking turns mating each other is much more common with two females than it is with a male and a female. Which doesn't mean that it's impossible.

 

[casportpony]

x2 on hearing two females. And welcome to BYC!

 

[pamelajean]

My ducks, both female, take turns mating each other daily.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh my gosh those 2 are females sound just like my 2 Buffs

 

[chickens really]

Both Hens and yes they will and do breed each other..Nice Birds...

 

[Runner duck mom]

I have the same issue with my ducks that are about 6 months now . Ordered two male runners from Metzer farms and as they hit duck puberty I was very confused. One was much louder than the other and they were taking turns mating with each other, also no curly tail feathers. An egg finally appeared so one female for sure. I was positive I had a pair when it looked like some of the eggs were fertilized but now getting two eggs some mornings.
A few days ago I actually saw the quieter of the two ducks lay an egg...thought this was my male!
I know this isn't an answer to your question but I'm right there with you I am new to ducks and have found great info and help on this site.
Love the video! They are making their happy duck sounds for you, always puts a smile on my face

 

[Goldfire7]

I think I have solved the issue. The bigger duck seems to have turned out to be a male. Since recording this video the Drake feather, or what appears to be the Drake feather, has appeared on the tail.

I've watched the for sure female intensely dig out a nest and lay 3 eggs inside of it. The third egg was a very poor excuse for an egg compared to the first two so i broke it open to see what was going on inside and from my understanding the egg looks completely fertile.

It has the bullseye spot on the yolk and the first "tester" egg im incubating (day 3) is turning out to have a black mass of something forming on the yolk. Hopefully im not delusional.
Ill update when I am 100% positive incase anyone needs this information.