Is my rouen malnourished?

[Tahai]

If the protein in your starter food is over 18%, you definitely want to switch your duck over to lower protein grower. You're aiming for 15-16% protein. Start watching for shakey legs also, to alert you to any niacin deficiencies.

21 weeks to sex by feather color sounds about right. You can sex by drake curl between 12 and 16 weeks, and you can sex by quack at 8-10 weeks.

 

[RileyB]

My rouen peeps loudly most of the time, and every once in awhile comes out with a couple of quacks. Does that mean it's definitely a female?

And are you saying the rouen shouldn't have feathers yet? I keep reading different perspectives on this and am wondering if I should be worried about its lack of feathers or not....

 

[PetesMom]

If its 8 weeks old it should most definetly have all of its feathers (they will just change color in time if its a male) mine were fully feathered by 6-7 weeks old.

Just switch everybody over to a non medicated feed. I feed Dumor brand to everybody, and they all do fine on it.

 

[jdywntr]

My rouen peeps loudly most of the time, and every once in awhile comes out with a couple of quacks. Does that mean it's definitely a female?

And are you saying the rouen shouldn't have feathers yet? I keep reading different perspectives on this and am wondering if I should be worried about its lack of feathers or not....

Random quacks at a young age don't necessarily mean female. It took me a while to be able to determine an actual quack. Drake curls or eggs are much easier determinants of gender.

Tail feathers grow in first but it will depend on the actual age as to whether or not it should have actual feathers and not fluff. Again, a pic would help. Some ducklings go through a VERY ugly duckling stage. My first muscovy, who were about 6 weeks when I got them, looked horrible but I think it was their living conditions. They weren't mistreated but lived on just dirt flooring.

 

[RileyB]

Here's a picture of my rouen that's supposed to be 9 weeks old now. Do you think it's younger? He's (I have no idea if it's male or female, but I refer to it as "he") just starting to grow his tail feathers.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here's a picture of my rouen that's supposed to be 9 weeks old now. Do you think it's younger? He's (I have no idea if it's male or female, but I refer to it as "he") just starting to grow his tail feathers.

I don't that much about Rouen but looking at his wings what i can see of them I'd say he's younger than 9weeks since i am going by my Muscovy duckling who is 10 weeks old. Cute too. Just found this video of Rouen ducklings at a little over 4 weeks old for comparison. http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a173/brood_mare25/?action=view&current=1a5166c5.mp4

 

[flaming007]

It looks like your rouen is in good shape. I dont think its 9 weeks old though.. maybe 5 or 6 weeks

 

[70%cocoa]

I'd say about 4-5 weeks for your duckling. But some ducklings do grow much much more slowly than the norm, and take mch longer to feather up, so he could be older.

I switch mine to grower food at 3 weeks of age too. I agree with all the suggestions to put them both on grower feed now.

Your duckling looks healthy and a good weight for his size

 

[jdywntr]

definetly not 9 weeks. I agree 4-5 weeks. When they feather out they will look the same whether male or female. until they get their adult plumage, you can sex by voice, then drake curl. Cute! Look good too.