information on wood ducks needed

[outsageous]

Hi everyone, I’ve been raising a Wood duck for almost 10 weeks now, & I’m a little confused about some things. I’m really trying to figure out how old it is & what sex it is. I was waiting patiently for the yellow ring to form around the eye, but I have yet to see that happen. I thought it would be there by now. Does anyone know what age it is that they form the yellow ring? & for the drakes, what age is it that their eyes turn red? Also, I would appreciate it if someone could tell me what age they think it is based on pictures posed below. Thanks so much!

 

[outsageous]

10 weeks ago:

9 weeks ago:

8 weeks ago:

7 weeks ago:

6 weeks ago:

5 weeks ago:

4 weeks ago:

 

[outsageous]

(continued)

4 weeks ago:

3 weeks ago:

2 weeks ago:

this week:

 

[roosterhavoc]

I’m not sure how old she is but it’s a hen.

 

[outsageous]

I’m not sure how old she is but it’s a hen.

Okay, thanks! How do you know? It is a juvenile & personally I was getting mixed signals because whenever I look it up some people say that the white strip going up the face 100% means a male, but some others say that because it’s lighter it’s a female. I was following others on here who are also raising wood ducks, & it seems to me that mine might be a late bloomer or something because it doesn’t seem to be developing as much as the others.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Okay, thanks! How do you know? It is a juvenile & personally I was getting mixed signals because whenever I look it up some people say that the white strip going up the face 100% means a male, but some others say that because it’s lighter it’s a female. I was following others on here who are also raising wood ducks, & it seems to me that mine might be a late bloomer or something because it doesn’t seem to be developing as much as the others.

I hunt them.

 

[outsageous]

I hunt them.

You hunt juvenile wood ducks? All juveniles look more similar to hens, I know that. The big difference between a male juvenile & a female juvenile isn’t until the eyes & the rings change colors, but mine hasn’t even gotten the ring yet. Originally, I was asking why is it taking so long & when are they supposed to develop those things. In my last post, I was asking what specific characteristics are present that led you to believe that it was a hen.

 

[roosterhavoc]

You hunt juvenile wood ducks? All juveniles look more similar to hens, I know that. The big difference between a male juvenile & a female juvenile isn’t until the eyes & the rings change colors, but mine hasn’t even gotten the ring yet. Originally, I was asking why is it taking so long & when are they supposed to develop those things. In my last post, I was asking what specific characteristics are present that led you to believe that it was a hen.

Usually the eyes change colors around 2 months I think. If you’ve been raising the bird for 10 weeks you’re past that already.
I could be wrong though.
Yes some juvenile wood ducks are taken during hunting season depending on how many clutches and when chicks are hatched. They can fly around the same time the eye color changes.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I don’t remember all the proper terms but I think the white markings on the wing speculum are broader/thicker on females too like your duck.
The males have the white but it’s usually finer.

 

[outsageous]

Usually the eyes change colors around 2 months I think. If you’ve been raising the bird for 10 weeks you’re past that already.
I could be wrong though.
Yes some juvenile wood ducks are taken during hunting season depending on how many clutches and when chicks are hatched. They can fly around the same time the eye color changes.

That’s what I was confused about, because I did think it was past the point where the eye color changes (but I wasn’t sure) & in pictures you can see the yellow ring forms before the color change, & then it changes after to red too. There isn’t a ring or anything yet though. Is there something wrong with it, or could it be a hybrid or maybe a Mandarin duck instead? It looks just like a wood duck, so I always thought it was, but I’m not entirely sure. I know Mandarins look really similar & they don’t have the eye ring or eye color change. What do you think?