ID and Sexing help!

[MyMonsters91]

So I've had 4 ducks for about 3 months now... they're 4 months old now. 2 Pekins and 2 of what I thought were mallards, when they were babies. I also thought all 4 were positively female. So yesterday I collected 3 Drakes of equal age (maybe 5 months old, according to the person I bought them from). Absolutely beautiful, and I know their breeds.

After getting them home and settled, I got curious on my two 'mallard' girls, on what breed they actually are, now that I know they're obviously not mallards. The -only- bloody breed I can find that matches are Silver Appleyard ducks... if they were male! Really, really hoping I didn't make a mistake and they're indeed females, because if my two girls are males, then I now have 5 males and 2 females.. not good!

So help, breed, and any chance they're female??! They aren't as ear-splitting as my Pekins, but compared to the 3 Drakes I got yesterday they're not whispery either. Just very rough and throaty instead of clear and high pitched. The 3 Drakes I got yesterday also have very obvious tail curls, while my 2 'girls' don't have an obvious curl.. even though they're bigger in size (if not age.. all 4 of my ducks are larger in size then the drakes I got yesterday)

 

[JadeComputerGal]

So I've had 4 ducks for about 3 months now... they're 4 months old now. 2 Pekins and 2 of what I thought were mallards, when they were babies. I also thought all 4 were positively female. So yesterday I collected 3 Drakes of equal age (maybe 5 months old, according to the person I bought them from). Absolutely beautiful, and I know their breeds.

After getting them home and settled, I got curious on my two 'mallard' girls, on what breed they actually are, now that I know they're obviously not mallards. The -only- bloody breed I can find that matches are Silver Appleyard ducks... if they were male! Really, really hoping I didn't make a mistake and they're indeed females, because if my two girls are males, then I now have 5 males and 2 females.. not good!

So help, breed, and any chance they're female??! They aren't as ear-splitting as my Pekins, but compared to the 3 Drakes I got yesterday they're not whispery either. Just very rough and throaty instead of clear and high pitched. The 3 Drakes I got yesterday also have very obvious tail curls, while my 2 'girls' don't have an obvious curl.. even though they're bigger in size (if not age.. all 4 of my ducks are larger in size then the drakes I got yesterday)

The one in front can't be a female. The female's heads don't turn like they, and they don't have claret on the chest. Are both these pics of the same birds? You're wanting to know the sex of the two birds to the left in the top pic, right? And the bottom pic is the same birds in a different pose?

 

[MyMonsters91]

No, both gray headed birds in each photo are different.. the bottom one has a crest on it's head. Kind of hard to see it with the lighting. So they're definitely male.. darn it. I know the white ones in the photos are girls for sure, they're loud sobs and their tails can't get any straighter if you ironed them. ... blast it. What am I supposed to do now that I have 5 drakes and 2 hens? Poor girls. Ugh! Are they the silver appleyards like I assume? Or are there ducks that look like the appleyards?

 

[JadeComputerGal]

No, both gray headed birds in each photo are different.. the bottom one has a crest on it's head. Kind of hard to see it with the lighting. So they're definitely male.. darn it. I know the white ones in the photos are girls for sure, they're loud sobs and their tails can't get any straighter if you ironed them. ... blast it. What am I supposed to do now that I have 5 drakes and 2 hens? Poor girls. Ugh! Are they the silver appleyards like I assume? Or are there ducks that look like the appleyards?

I didn't notice the crest until you mentioned it. They look more like Saxony to me. They're a little too upright and pastel for Appleyards. Also, Appleyards have a blue wing speculum and the ones on those look charcoal, which would also make Saxony more likely. I can't remember ever hearing of a crested Saxony, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Do you want me to look into it some more?

 

[MyMonsters91]

I didn't notice the crest until you mentioned it. They look more like Saxony to me. They're a little too upright and pastel for Appleyards. Also, Appleyards have a blue wing speculum and the ones on those look charcoal, which would also make Saxony more likely. I can't remember ever hearing of a crested Saxony, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Do you want me to look into it some more?

I would absolutely appreciate any help. Not sure what to do now that I have 5 drakes. I like the 3 I got yesterday a lot.. very pretty birdies, but I've had these guys for 3 months now, and I get attached. But I can't have 5 drakes to 2 hens, that would just be mean to them. ::sigh:: they're also only 4 months old, could that explain the lack of blue band? They only got their red on their chests in the last few weeks, it seems. Before that they were mostly just gray. Their coloring is changing often. This was July 18th, for example. So a month ago they weren't yet red. |

 

[jducour]

Bummer! How attached are you to the boys you bought yesterday? I would say either return them or find them a forever home. It is tricky to keep 2 males and two females, so if you keep your two original males I would add a few more females. Or - if you really like the males you got yesterday, find a new home for your drakes and one of the 5 month old drakes. I wouldn't keep the three drakes unless you get rid of your females. You could have an all drake flock? Sorry - I've been in this situation, and it's a tough one!

 

[jducour]

By the way - those are some gorgeous birds!

 

[MyMonsters91]

Quote:

Bummer! How attached are you to the boys you bought yesterday? I would say either return them or find them a forever home. It is tricky to keep 2 males and two females, so if you keep your two original males I would add a few more females. Or - if you really like the males you got yesterday, find a new home for your drakes and one of the 5 month old drakes. I wouldn't keep the three drakes unless you get rid of your females. You could have an all drake flock? Sorry - I've been in this situation, and it's a tough one!

I haven't had a chance to actually 'attach' to them.. but they are BEAUTIFUL birds. A cayuga drake, a mallard drake, and a large crested pekin drake with an orange stomach. I might consider a drake flock and get rid of my girls, but that would mean losing any chance of a couple more eggs or ever having some little baby ducky hatchlings. I also don't know how many more ducks I can get... I think the amount I have now (7) is my limit, it's quite full! So I'll have to figure something out if I want to keep girls.

 

[jducour]

I know it is hard! I raised 5 beautiful ducks that I got straight run when they were 2 days old. I knew I would have to get rid of one or two if I had too many males, but I ended up with 5 males! I was so sad! I was really wanting eggs, that was a large part of my decision to get ducks in the first place. I found 3 of them a new home. It was really hard, and I still think about them, but they were able to go to a great farm together, and I know they are being well cared for. I then added four adult female ducks to my flock, and I have a big happy ducky family. They all get along really well, I get 3-4 eggs a day, and there is no fighting over females yet. I will say though, even though my males are nice, they are randy. They mate with my 4 girls at least 5-10 times a day. One of my males does most of it, he's the alpha - and his buddy is maybe once a day. If I had less than 4 ducks, we would be in trouble. I would be better off adding one or two more. They really can overmate if you don't have the right ratio. I wish you luck!

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Quote:

I haven't had a chance to actually 'attach' to them.. but they are BEAUTIFUL birds. A cayuga drake, a mallard drake, and a large crested pekin drake with an orange stomach. I might consider a drake flock and get rid of my girls, but that would mean losing any chance of a couple more eggs or ever having some little baby ducky hatchlings. I also don't know how many more ducks I can get... I think the amount I have now (7) is my limit, it's quite full! So I'll have to figure something out if I want to keep girls.

So the rust on the chest of the crested one is its feathers? If so, it's not a Pekin, at least not a purebred one. I thought that was a mud stain.