January to February 2024 Duckling Hatch-Along!

[KathiQuacks]

Do you know Laffy is a girl? I know zip about ducks but hear you can tell by the voice?

Yes, she’s a girl! You can certainly tell by the voice. As adults, drakes will make a raspy squawk, and hens will produce a loud quack-quack-quack, but even as ducklings, you can hear the females make what’s called a “peep-honk.”

I’ve been able to hear Laffy peep-honking since she was just 10 days old! However, it’s very subtle, and not 100% accurate at that age. With my first batch of ducklings, only 2/3 of the ducklings who peep-honked that young ended up being girls.

So far, 4 weeks has been the age where I can hear a more noticeable “honk!” and anyone still honking after 4 weeks have all been girls for me.

As of now, I also believe Peach, Prickly, Banana, Lemon, and Peppermint are girls, but I’ll have to wait and see for sure. I believe Guava is a boy, and I’m unsure about Coconut, Coffee, or Strawberry.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Yes, she’s a girl! You can certainly tell by the voice. As adults, drakes will make a raspy squawk, and hens will produce a loud quack-quack-quack, but even as ducklings, you can hear the females make what’s called a “peep-honk.”

I’ve been able to hear Laffy peep-honking since she was just 10 days old! However, it’s very subtle, and not 100% accurate at that age. With my first batch of ducklings, only 2/3 of the ducklings who peep-honked that young ended up being girls.

So far, 4 weeks has been the age where I can hear a more noticeable “honk!” and anyone still honking after 4 weeks have all been girls for me.

As of now, I also believe Peach, Prickly, Banana, Lemon, and Peppermint are girls, but I’ll have to wait and see for sure. I believe Guava is a boy, and I’m unsure about Coconut, Coffee, or Strawberry.

That is too cool, I’m happy she’s a girl, Laffy Taffy eggs!

 

[KathiQuacks]

That is too cool, I’m happy she’s a girl, Laffy Taffy eggs!

Me too! When I started this, I really wanted to try keeping a crested girl, and the fact that the first-born is my crested girl makes her feel soo much more special

 

[tlcmurphy]

Me too! When I started this, I really wanted to try keeping a crested girl, and the fact that the first-born is my crested girl makes her feel soo much more special

She’s definitely special Maybe Strawberry will be a girl too!

 

[2ndTink]

Some pictures of the Little 5!

I’ve tried my hardest to label who’s who from left to right, but understandably, the yellow babies look very similar

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A blurry photo of the Little 5 - they don’t sit still for long! Coffee, Lemon, Peppermint, Coconut, Strawberry
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The Big 5’s first meeting with the Little 5 through a gate. Coconut, Peppermint, Strawberry ​

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Coconut on the left. On the right, top to bottom is Strawberry, Peppermint, Lemon, Coffee​

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Lemon, Strawberry, Peppermint, Coconut
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Lemon, Strawberry
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Strawberry, Coffee​

Also, an abundance of Laffy photos, because she’s my favorite - in case you couldn’t tell

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Laffy being footballed
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Laffy smiling for the camera

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Laffy front-view with mad scientist hair

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Laffy finally able to tuck her bill under her wing!​

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Laffy being footballed again​

They are all so cute! I absolutely still love Laffy's crest

Look at my little Peppermint

 

[Luv Ducks]

I absolutely loved the pictures of the Little 5. Coconut is so darned cute along with all of the others. Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us. This has been a fun adventure and I have enjoyed it very much. I hope that Coconut is a girl for you.

 

[KathiQuacks]

More pictures of everyone

Lemon with a whole lot of feathers coming in

Coffee, Coconut​

Lemon and Coconut at the front

Coffee

Prickly in front, Guava drinking

Laffy and Peach plumage comparison

Caramel

Cherry

Pitaya​

Duck math is really getting to me At the start of this, I said I only wanted to keep 2 - 3 ducklings, but now I think I’ll be keeping 7 - 8 of them. They’re just too sweet!

At the moment, I know that Laffy, Peach, Prickly, and Banana are girls. I believe Lemon, Coffee, Strawberry, and Peppermint could be girls as well, but I’m gonna give it another week or two until I say for sure. Guava is definitely a boy. I’m still unsure about Coconut, so they may be a boy as well. Overall, I think we have the potential of 8 girls and 2 boys - very good, if so! At the very least, I think there’s more girls than boys.

Oh, also, I’ve finally been able to give Peppermint a green leg band on her right leg. Now it’ll be much easier to tell her and Coconut apart

Edit to add - I changed my profile picture! It’s around 90% AI and 10% of my editing. I tried to get it as close to Pitaya, Cherry, and Caramel as possible, but there’s clear differences. I still quite like it

 

[TwoCrows]

More pictures of everyone

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Lemon with a whole lot of feathers coming in

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Coffee, Coconut​

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Lemon and Coconut at the front

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Coffee

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Prickly in front, Guava drinking

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Laffy and Peach plumage comparison

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Caramel

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Cherry

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Pitaya​

Duck math is really getting to me At the start of this, I said I only wanted to keep 2 - 3 ducklings, but now I think I’ll be keeping 7 - 8 of them. They’re just too sweet!

At the moment, I know that Laffy, Peach, Prickly, and Banana are girls. I believe Lemon, Coffee, Strawberry, and Peppermint could be girls as well, but I’m gonna give it another week or two until I say for sure. Guava is definitely a boy. I’m still unsure about Coconut, so they may be a boy as well. Overall, I think we have the potential of 8 girls and 2 boys - very good, if so! At the very least, I think there’s more girls than boys.

Oh, also, I’ve finally been able to give Peppermint a green leg band on her right leg. Now it’ll be much easier to tell her and Coconut apart

Edit to add - I changed my profile picture! It’s around 90% AI and 10% of my editing. I tried to get it as close to Pitaya, Cherry, and Caramel as possible, but there’s clear differences. I still quite like it

Over the top cuteness!

 

[Nero70002]

Is pitaya a duck you already had?

 

[KathiQuacks]

Is pitaya a duck you already had?

Yes, I think I posted a couple other pictures of her in this thread. I got Pitaya with Caramel - her and Caramel are half-sisters Same dad, different mom.