Khaki Campbell gender identification problem...please help :- )

[Kevin565]

Oh stink! Is there a way to sex them when they are little besides venting? I guess I now have to start over and need to know what to look for so this doesn't happen again. :- /

I don't believe that it's possible unless you have a Dark Campbell over A Khaki Campbell. I don't remember which is the Drake in the situation but it will give you sex linked ducklings for the F1 generation.

 

[ChickInDelight]

I have 3 that look like girls to me at age 6 weeks. They are darker that the picture. Any chance I have all girls? (I usually get too many drakes!)

 

[littlels]

The heads are darker or the bodies?

 

[Blessedchickens]

Hate to tell you, but all four have green adult plumage coming in. With 4 drakes you will need three ducks per boy, or to rehome 2-3 of the boys. This will be to prevent over breeding or possible injury to the girls.

Absolutely true. When they get overrun with hormones they can hurt the hens. I had that happen. To this day I have a hen that gets a gimpy leg because of her overzealous drake and he has four girls!!

 

[littlels]

Well, I went out today and yep, all 4 of them have some green on the heads. I didn't see it on the one last night but it was probably the lack of sunlight that caused me to not notice it. Thanks for the help all...

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

When getting ducklings and you get straight run all drakes is a risk. If you already have all drakes make sure to buy sexed ducklings next time. Not all breeders can or will vent sex, but it is the only way to be pretty sure (it's not always 100%) on what genders you are getting.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

Question: When do you notice the green on the drakes? My khaki is a boy (I have seen his physical evidence!) but no drake feathers and no dark green head, he looks like a duck but has the male sound and acts like a male. I have no idea how old he is as he is a rescue. (Sorry I didn't mean to hijack the thread!!!!!!!!) So...once you see green on the head, it is for sure male?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Our April ducklings are all molting or have already molted over to their adult plumage now. Yes with the Khakis you will see the green start to fade in and then be very noticeable as well as the drake curl grow in.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

Our April ducklings are all molting or have already molted over to their adult plumage now. Yes with the Khakis you will see the green start to fade in and then be very noticeable as well as the drake curl grow in.

Awesome! Thank you. My boy is molting on the side of his head, it looks kinda weird. I have never seen a bird molt before.

 

[JoyAnna]

Me too. Seems we need a thread for sexing Khaki Campbells! My four are at 16 weeks and more than half way through molting. My biggest encouragement is that at least three of their heads are loosing the dark feathers and the new are coming in lighter. They sure look funny and scraggly right now though

. Two of them are turning a very light khaki color, almost a very light tan, on their chest and sides. The frustrating part is that three of them have what looks like drake feathers, but I think this may be the almost black feathers on their backs, up under their wings, working their way out. I have to keep hoping, you know.