How to Identify Young Ducklings

[cheezenkwackers]

Pipe cleaner is a great ide omg!! It’ll come off easy for growth thank you very much

I would not use any kind of wire. If swallowed it could cause death. Pipe cleaners also can’t get wet without losing their dye.
I am curious, why do you think you won’t be able to tell them apart? I had two female Welsh Harlequins, I could easily tell them apart from hatch.

 

[NatJ]

I’m getting 3 Welsh harlequin females.i plan to monitor their weight and such, and as so keeping their identified from the other is very Important

I know they make small small bands, but I couldn’t find any of sizes I felt were reliable for cheap enough- or without buying way more than I needed! So, I ask, how can I identify them at home? String on the feet? What ideas do you have? Of course, there won’t be anything pink or red on them.

TYIA/thank you in advance

You can put Sharpie marker or a bit of food coloring on their heads (different color for each one.)

The head is one of the last places to grow feathers, so you'll be able to see it for a while.

Just watch for when it gets hard to see, and either add more or do something different at that time (like leg bands, if you want.)

It might be possible to recognize each individual one, after you've had them for a bit, so you might not need to re-mark them later.

 

[the_kitchen__drawer]

I would not use any kind of wire. If swallowed it could cause death. Pipe cleaners also can’t get wet without losing their dye.
I am curious, why do you think you won’t be able to tell them apart? I had two female Welsh Harlequins, I could easily tell them apart from hatch.

First time duckling person

 

[cheezenkwackers]

First time duckling person

Understand! I suspect you will quickly learn to tell them apart.

 

[Nadilli]

How about sharpie colors on the tops of the bills? Of course it would have to be refreshed, but it should work until you can safely put on a leg band.