Help with Mallards

[ChckenBoy13]

Last week I got two Mallard ducklings from the local TSC and I had a couple of questions. First, how old will the ducks be before you can start telling their gender. Secondly, what are Mallards mostly for? Pets? Eggs? Meat? Lastly, does a hen have to have a drake before it will lay eggs? Thanks in advance!

 

[Kevin565]

Last week I got two Mallard ducklings from the local TSC and I had a couple of questions. First, how old will the ducks be before you can start telling their gender. Secondly, what are Mallards mostly for? Pets? Eggs? Meat? Lastly, does a hen have to have a drake before it will lay eggs? Thanks in advance!

You should be able to voice sex by 4 weeks.

They are commonly kept as pets. They are usually seasonal layers and are quite small.

No she does not need a drake to lay eggs.

 

[ChckenBoy13]

How will I be able to voice sex them?

 

[Kevin565]

Males will have a rapsy voice while females will have a loud quack. If you end up with all of the same sex it can be harder to tell the difference for the first time

 

[ChckenBoy13]

Well I'm hoping to get a female and a drake. I will have to post a video with sound so someone can help me

 

[Kevin565]

That should work. Hope you end up with a pair!