How do I check the gender of my two month old muscovies?

[moonpiemushroom]

I am new to raising ducks, with two muscovies being my first. I was wondering how would I check their gender. How should their caruncle look and voice sound like at this stage. Here is a picture of them. They look and sound identical with the older one having a smudge more red on the eyes.

 

[Quatie]

The easiest way is to compare the size of them. But with only 2, if they are the same gender, it can be more difficult. With that caruncle growth, I would say males. Females is usually barely formed at that age.

@Miss Lydia should be able to confirm.

They are beautiful ducks.

 

[Run Amock DucksNChickens]

Females quack/honk, males don't so much.

 

[Quatie]

Females quack/honk, males don't so much.

Muscovy ducks are rather unique ducks and often called the quackless duck. They are the only domestic breed that doesn't descend from the mallard and really are a lot quieter than the mallard breeds. They make thrills, coo, hisses, and huffs. The males will only hiss or huff, but that won't be noticable in them yet. They are pretty awesome species of duck . I highly recommend checking them out if you haven't.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep gorgeous drakes. And if you don't add any females they will be best buds.

 

[sowNreap]

They make thrills, coo, hisses, and huffs. The males will only hiss or huff, but that won't be noticable in them yet.

At about what age do they change from peeps to the hisses & huffs?

I'm unsure of the age of my Muscovy drakes but think they're somewhere between 8-12 weeks old. Plus they came from different broods so are different ages. They have fair amount of caruncle. I'm still waiting on the youngest one to make sure he's a he & not a she. Pretty sure he's a drake based on other critera like legs & body shape.

 

[sowNreap]

And if you don't add any females they will be best buds.

Would that hold true if there are 6 drakes & no females? Or am I going to have problems with an all drake flock? They've been together since hatching.

Long story why I have all drakes. Story for another time. lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

That I don't know might be the less dominate ones would get raped by the biggest and most dominant. What you might want to do just in case is to have a plan B where you have more than one pen. I started out with 3 Muscovy drakes that I met in the river below my home, Long story too. Anyway I fell in love, so my dh says if you want ducks go get your own, so off I go bringing home 3 females Muscovy. Well the boys found out I had females and started visiting during the day and going back to the river in late evening. Come to find out fighting was going on now and one of the drakes killed another which left just 2 down at the river and then only one so I brought him home to live with us. I learned alot during that time about Muscovy ducks. Drakes are fierce fighters and will kill maybe not intentionally but it did happen. I have had 4 at one time, Had to keep each one in separate areras of the fenced property to keep the peace. I'm not saying this will happen with your ducks just be prepared for anything when you have these critters.

 

[sowNreap]

Thanks, I think. lol

I have couple plan b's neither of which I like. Your suggestion for separate pen is probably the best plan b.

I'm really hoping since they're brothers maybe they'll get along better but raging hormones might throw that out the window & mean bro against bro.