FarmFullOfFowl
Songster
My Magpies turned 11 weeks old yesterday and I am having such a time sexing them. When they were a week old, I tried the vent sexing, but I had never done it before and I was so scared that I was going to hurt the cute little fluffs, that I just couldn't. Now there are so many that its very hard to hear just one from the crowd, but its something that needs to be done. Yes, I understand that my Magpies are not great specimens and most of them are overmarked and looks like there is some possible Ancona in their line. These were day-olds shipped from Purely Poultry in March 2021. I honestly think that most of our flock are drakes. I am super new here and for reference, we are starting a small farm on our 47 acres and the Magpies were purchased to be our slug control, so I am not particularly concerned that they do not look correct to breed. But, nonetheless, I am not going to be breeding any of the ones that look particularly over-marked. This means that my family can get rid of (I have been a vegetarian since I was 11, but my family eats meat and I am all for me growing their food for them) a few drakes that are particularly overmarked or small at this point.
That bring me to why I am posting this. I need help! Yes, I have looked up how to tell the difference in sounds from a drake versus a female duck but I really am having a hard time telling the difference. If anyone is willing to help me out here with some experience, I would greatly appreciate it since we have 21 of these babies and I don't know who is who. Also, I have seen zero drake feather curls.
Please disregard the background flock talking their heads off. What do you think?
For reference, this is what I think is a female:
1.
And this is a drake, right?
2.
And I THINK this is female, except I swear that this one makes little drake sounds sometimes when its walking around:
3.
A drake?
4.
Another drake?
5.
Yet another drake?
6.
No clue.
7.
Am I totally off? They just sound so similar to me!! This is the first time I have ever been around or raised ducks, Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
That bring me to why I am posting this. I need help! Yes, I have looked up how to tell the difference in sounds from a drake versus a female duck but I really am having a hard time telling the difference. If anyone is willing to help me out here with some experience, I would greatly appreciate it since we have 21 of these babies and I don't know who is who. Also, I have seen zero drake feather curls.
Please disregard the background flock talking their heads off. What do you think?
For reference, this is what I think is a female:
1.
And this is a drake, right?
2.
And I THINK this is female, except I swear that this one makes little drake sounds sometimes when its walking around:
3.
A drake?
4.
Another drake?
5.
Yet another drake?
6.
No clue.
7.
Am I totally off? They just sound so similar to me!! This is the first time I have ever been around or raised ducks, Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!