M or F Mallard

[dalmation1080]

(Sorry I don't have any photos, I tried to take some but it hid from me!)

I have been raising mallards for a few years now but I don't know about this duck. This spring I bought some Pekin & mallard ducklings. When I picked out the ducklings there was one mallard who was much darker than the others, he stood out from the other 50 easy. He was so dark he didnt have any yellow stripe on his head and the yellow on his body was very small. Now that this duck has grown up it has kept its dark features and I can not tell if its a M or a F. All the pekins that I purchased already have their tail feathers in so I can tell what they are, but I lost the other mallard duckling to compare this one to so I don't know if I am too early to guess on this mallard or not.

Anyway this duck doesn't have his neck ring or tail feathers yet so I am wondering if it is a F after all. The feathers are so dark I am wondering if it was just a genetic mix up in the group or something. It is literally dark gray/black. Does anyone have any imput on this? Again, sorry there is not a photo.

 

[Whittni]

If there aren't any tail feathers I would guess its a girl but maybe you could take a picture while they are on the roost.

 

[dalmation1080]

This is a horrible photo

 

[Speceider]

Drake



Clint

 

[desertdarlene]

This is a horrible photo

Boy.

 

[RacerWife7]

Can someone please clarify WHY you all say this is a drake? My mallard looks very much like this (except not as dark). Thanks!

 

[desertdarlene]

The yellow/green bill and the head markings.

 

[mothergooz]

I can't tell but a surefire way of knowing whether you've got a boy or a girl: orange beak its a girl, olive beak its a boy.

 

[RacerWife7]

OOOOOKAY.... I may have a boy on my hands, then, too. Hmmmm.... That's not good since I have only 3 ducks and I know one of my 2 Swedes is a drake, as well. As far as voice goes, I do have only one noisy quacker. She makes quite the ruckus when she sees me; whereas my mallard and the other Swede are quiet - they both peep more than quack.

I think Peepers' beak is more yellow than orange now. But, I'll have to go out and look at her a little later.