Getting Pekin Ducks. I have questions?!

[Calveyfarm]

Tomorrow morning I am picking up my Pekin Ducks. The owner sent me pictures and I was wondering if anyone can tell if they are male or female? The owner says he’s not sure. Also it looks like they have been kept in an off the ground cage. I will be keeping them in a fenced in area with cattle fencing and they will have a 4x4 coop. I’ve read pekins cannot fly but I was wondering if I should cover my run area (fence is 4 1/2ish Feet High)
Thanks Everyone!!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Male ducks sort of grunt. Female ducks quack.

There are a few other methods. Check out this site: http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/artquacks.htm

EDT: and they can definitely fly a 4 and a half foot fence. Ours wouldn't bother, but you might want to clip the flight feathers along one of the wings on each duck.

 

[NikAndHerChicks]

Congratulations on your new ducks! If you could post a couple of better pics when you get them home I'm sure we could help you out! The angle these pictures are at make it difficult to tell. Like Sylvie said, the voice is definitely a great way to tell drake vs. hen (also, the obvious egg laying!) I'll go out on a limb here and say I think I might see 2 curled tail feathers? So possibly 2 drakes? Not quite sure...
Definitely post more when you get a chance. We love lots of pics!!

 

[CayugaJana]

They look mostly like girls from what I can see. Unless they have pulled out their curly tail feathers.

 

[chickens really]

They will either QUACK loud or Rasp..Hens Quack and Drakes rasp..If in molt the Drakes lose the tail curl. They don't usually pull them out. It's a fancy thing Drakes take pride in..Tail curl.

 

[farm_girl726]

We have two Pekins, their wings are not clipped and they have not attempted to fly away .... HOWEVER mine are not penned, they have free range of 2+ acres and they love it. They do waddle pretty fast for being so short hah. I love them, super friendly. Horrible nesters though. I noticed on my pair, my male seems to be more "squat" his body is lower to the ground, my female is a little more upright in the front. Congrats on your new ducks!

 

[Calveyfarm]

Congratulations on your new ducks! If you could post a couple of better pics when you get them home I'm sure we could help you out! The angle these pictures are at make it difficult to tell. Like Sylvie said, the voice is definitely a great way to tell drake vs. hen (also, the obvious egg laying!) I'll go out on a limb here and say I think I might see 2 curled tail feathers? So possibly 2 drakes? Not quite sure...
Definitely post more when you get a chance. We love lots of pics!!

Thank you!! I’m leaving soon so I will post better photos in a few hours!

 

[CayugaJana]

Thank you!! I’m leaving soon so I will post better photos in a few hours!

Yea!

You can also do an experiment. Pick each one of them up and walk away from the group. The girls will quack their heads off and the boys will be silent or sound like they are chain smokers.

 

[farm_girl726]

Yea!

You can also do an experiment. Pick each one of them up and walk away from the group. The girls will quack their heads off and the boys will be silent or sound like they are chain smokers.

My mallard does sound like a chain smoker when his girl is not within his sight. My Pekin male could care less, he's a bit of a look get loner.

 

[Mrs.SWhite89]

Just got my male, they are bigger then the females, have a curled tail feather and don't quack.