INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Lengerich Farms]

Waterfowl have masculine appendages of a crazy order, but surprisingly, they're really difficult to sex unless they feel like getting some action. They can pull it out of hammer space, but apparently, we can't pull it out for them easily. 

Muscovy drake-lings have longer tails and are about a third bigger than duck-lings. They work on that size difference very early, so you'll be able to tell quickly. Eventually, you can voice sex them because boys wheeze and hiss, and girls can quack if you pick them up, but mostly they wheeze and boys hiss. 

You're more likely to damage your birds trying to pop 'em. 

I read about it but figured I'd ask the group before going about it. Going my the leg size method I have 2/2. Would one drake be okay with two hen! I've been told they need at least three. I would rather sink more more (if only I had as much as I wanted) into chickens rather than ducks. I already have people telling me that when then mate they'll buy pairs and such, and I'd like a couple eggs to eat. I'm just over the constant chater of the Pekins. My wife bags, the baby cries, go out side and the ducks nag (luckily none of them are in here lmao). I want a peaceful little urban farm, not something that sounds like I'm running and illegal duck fighting ring in my back yard. Lol

 

[Lengerich Farms]

I know this is hard to see but this is all four of them together. I think the color variation from sick to duck is interesting too, from blonde to black.

 

[Lengerich Farms]

Here is the lone suspected female. Best picture I've gotten.

these are the three suspected makes and one suspected female.

The thing the Pekins has taught them well: see human: run for your life!

Thank god for zoom.

 

[Indyshent]

I know this is hard to see but this is all four of them together. I think the color variation from sick to duck is interesting too, from blonde to black.

The front and center one is most likely a boy. Look at the long, pointy tail and how much bigger it is. Some might be that it's closer, but it looks like the front one's a boy, pale one is a girl, and the black and chocolate could go either way. Chocolate is possibly a bigger girl (butt's shorter but it's bigger), and the black one might be a small boy (butt's longer, but it's so small)

 

[Lengerich Farms]

The front and center one is most likely a boy. Look at the long, pointy tail and how much bigger it is. Some might be that it's closer, but it looks like the front one's a boy, pale one is a girl, and the black and chocolate could go either way. Chocolate is possibly a bigger girl (butt's shorter but it's bigger), and the black one might be a small boy (butt's longer, but it's so small)

This is the best picture I could get of them not en mass. I'll keep posting
G picture until we get it figured out. Would one drake be happy with two hens? I was told
Minimum of three, but want to make sure.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Honestly, if these are all the same age, you have 2 drakes, 2 ducks. Just my honest opinion, drakes get so BIG so fast! @racinchickins and @ellymayRans could weigh in also..

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Here is the lone suspected female. Best picture I've gotten.

these are the three suspected makes and one suspected female.

The thing the Pekins has taught them well: see human: run for your life!

Thank god for zoom.

It takes a little time to win over scovy ducklings, unless you brood raise them your self, and spend a lot of time with them. Even then some may be timid. Food is your easiest way to win them over. My favorite hen, Huey was very timid, but slowly came around. She just started landing on my shoulder one day, and was a best buddy ever since. I made a point of giving her a handful of chick feed every day. Huey was taken by an owl last spring

.
She was the broodiest little girl ever. Once I saw she was settled to a nest, and laying, I would give her 8-9 eggs, one by one. She would roll them under and boom, broody! Huey usually raised 3 large clutches a year. She did hatch a few chicken eggs, not by my choice the hens snuck in and laid in her nest. She did not leave her eggs to mother the chicks either. I found them in the coop and took them. Huey and her ducklings last fall-

 

[Lengerich Farms]

Honestly, if these are all the same age, you have 2 drakes, 2 ducks. Just my honest opinion, drakes get so BIG so fast! @racinchickins
and @ellymayRans
could weigh in also..

@racinchickins is who o got them from. Not to question his authority, but he pretty much said 2/2 S well. I just wanted other opinions is all, not that I didn't believe him or what he was talking about.

 

[Lengerich Farms]

@racinchickins is who o got them from. Not to question his authority, but he pretty much said 2/2 S well. I just wanted other opinions is all, not that I didn't believe him or what he was talking about.

So should I cull a drake and leave the three, or let them grow and leave them be and wait it out, do I find a third female. Or will one drake be happy with two ladies? That's are the questions I really need to get to knowing quick so I can take action. Once one of the drakes gets large enough I stick him in the coop with the hens if need be. Unless someone needs a Drake and needs to get rid of a hand I'd be willing to trade LOL

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Oh I totally agree, its an excellent idea to get several opinions! That's what our threads here for, talking out our concerns, getting other folks thoughts! I have hatched about 4 years now, and am really falling short on chicken gender guesses this year. I am working with some new breeds and really missed my guesses on hens. The Scovy are pretty easy once you have seen a few hatches grow up.

Quote: Adding a new duck is best while they are young. If you can find another female, definitely do it while they are still ducklings! You won't have drake issues until early spring, around March. That gives you time to decide who you like better! Adult ducks can be territorial too, is better if they all grow up together. My Physco, a very good mother but hates other female ducks. She and Huey were friendly, but after we lost Huey, that was that! She is human social unless you touch her ducklings or eggs. We found her 3rd nest last year in the old abandoned chicken coop, in the fish tank we used to brood in! She is hissing loudly warning me not to take her babies that are hatching.


Very anti social, with any Muscovy thats not her children. Will pick fights with another hen. I don't dare confine her with other ducks, only the drake she likes. Once she is done with him, Physco will beat him up too! She keeps trying to escape and hide eggs. Her newest hiding spot is about 40 feet up in a huge tree.