Male/Female Ducklings

[Rustyrider]

Hi,
The local feed store has cayuga ducklings. Can you tell a Male from a female when they are very young?
tia

 

[sylviethecochin]

Hi,
The local feed store has cayuga ducklings. Can you tell a Male from a female when they are very young?
tia

Unless you know how to vent sex (which can hurt the ducklings if done wrong) I'm afraid your best bet is to just order sexed ducklings. I believe Metzer carries them.

Welcome to BYC.

 

[Jpat]

i tried so hard to pick a female from a group of ducklings. Did all the research and came home with a male by accident haha.

I dont think theyd be happy with rectal exams in the store, or do people do that in the stores?

 

[sylviethecochin]

i tried so hard to pick a female from a group of ducklings. Did all the research and came home with a male by accident haha.

I dont think theyd be happy with rectal exams in the store, or do people do that in the stores?

Depends largely on the store and staff. The staff at our Rural King are so shiftless that I was able to sit beside the chick pens for nearly an hour prying poop off of bottoms without ever being questioned or even approached, despite at least three employees walking past me, and looking directly at me as they did. I probably couldn't get away with it at the TSC.

 

[Jpat]

Depends largely on the store and staff. The staff at our Rural King are so shiftless that I was able to sit beside the chick pens for nearly an hour prying poop off of bottoms without ever being questioned or even approached, despite at least three employees walking past me, and looking directly at me as they did. I probably couldn't get away with it at the TSC.

Yuck. Poor crusty butts. Thats incredible

 

[sylviethecochin]

Yuck. Poor crusty butts. Thats incredible

No, it's disgusting. And it's why I generally don't buy chicks during rush season.

 

[Duckworth]

As far as I know, Welsh Harlequins are the only common breed that can be sexed by looking during the first 2-3 days from hatch, based on bill coloring. After that, they start switching bill colors and it’s hard to tell.

Our local TSC has started putting their troughs of chicks and ducklings inside a covered chain link dog kennel with a lock on the gate to keep customers from handling the birds.

 

[Texag87]

As far as I know, Welsh Harlequins are the only common breed that can be sexed by looking during the first 2-3 days from hatch, based on bill coloring. After that, they start switching bill colors and it’s hard to tell.

Our local TSC has started putting their troughs of chicks and ducklings inside a covered chain link dog kennel with a lock on the gate to keep customers from handling the birds.

Ours has too. And the employee inside the kennel did not notice the sick ducklings. This was a couple weeks ago and I am still.......teed off

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Depends largely on the store and staff. The staff at our Rural King are so shiftless that I was able to sit beside the chick pens for nearly an hour prying poop off of bottoms without ever being questioned or even approached, despite at least three employees walking past me, and looking directly at me as they did. I probably couldn't get away with it at the TSC.

Sadly, that's been my experience at my local RK, too...

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

As far as I know, Welsh Harlequins are the only common breed that can be sexed by looking during the first 2-3 days from hatch, based on bill coloring. After that, they start switching bill colors and it’s hard to tell.

Our local TSC has started putting their troughs of chicks and ducklings inside a covered chain link dog kennel with a lock on the gate to keep customers from handling the birds.

Definite best practice (at least to prevent handling)! This year, our local TSC did the same. RK needs to do something similar - their useless "don't touch" signs do nothing if there's no enforcement.