I think I have a quacker!

[kodiakchicken]

My ducklings are only about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks old and today my little cayuga, Zipper, was making kind of a quacking sound. Could this be???? I didn't think they'd start quacking this early. It wasn't a full quack, but definitely not a baby peep anymore. It was soooo cute!!!

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Yes, I forget at what age their voices begin to change, but if I remember correctly you can begin to tell which are males and which are females. Females are more talkative and louder.

More distinguishable, in our experience, is bill color. In our rouens, the males develop brighter bills than the females.

I hope you get a good proportion of females to males!

 

[kodiakchicken]

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Thanks, me too. I have three and was supposed to get two hens and a drake, but then there was a problem with the hatch (they were all supposed to be magpies) and the hatchery called and asked if they could send one magpie, one cayuga and one blue swede. I said sure but where they still going to be sexed. He said no, straight-run. Unfortunately he was getting ready to send the order out right then and four other people had chickens coming with it and I didn't want to slow down the order. So, now it's a waiting game.

Unfortunately, I can't compare the bills because they each have different bill colors. Aarrgghhh!

 

[DrakeMaiden]

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Oh well. You don't have that much more time before it becomes obvious. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you don't get all drakes!!!

 

[DuckLady]

The girls will start making the unmistakeable sound that is a cross between a cough and a fart.

 

[Livinzoo]

I have 4 ducks, 1 drake and 3 hens. The hens are starting that odd noise. It started right about 2 weeks old. I have 1 cayuga hen and 2 campbell hens and 1 campbell drake

 

[DuckyBoys]

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LOL...