Mallards..... Pekins..... Magpie...... Questions from a new duck momma!

[MommaSie]

I picked up 2 Mallards (that was the label at the feed store - talking to my mom she's not sure they are actually mallards & not Rouens, as she isn't sure that it is legal to sale mallards as they are a "wild duck" - ???? I'm not sure either I just know that's what they were labeled as)

Anyways...IF they are Mallards when will I need to clip their wings so they do not fly away? They are about a month & a half old, just getting their breast feathers.
At what age will the male's (if he is a male like I hope) feathers start to "green" on his head?
Do females start to lay eggs around 6 months as well?

Pekins - I have 4 (1 may be a mix as it has a partial crest on the back of its head)
They are about 3/4 months old - HUGE!!! From what I read they are "fast growers" - are they meant more for "meat ducks" or are they good layers as well?
Do Males have the "curl" on their tail feather?

Magpie - I have 2 about a month & a half old. One is a lot larger than the other....possible male? Or are there other ways to tell male from female?

I also have 2 black ducklings....I have NO idea what breed they are & they are just starting to get their feathers in (about a month & a half old) - What are some different characteristics of different "black duck breeds"???

Thank you all for your help!!!

 

[MommaSie]

????

 

[Zombified]

Can you post pictures of your "Mallard" ducklings? I'm not experienced in the least, but when I was looking for the breed of my duckling, I learned quite a bit about what Mallard ducklings look like and what Rouen ducklings look like, so I might be able to help you.

From what I've learned, almost all Mallards learn how to fly, so, if you don't want yours to fly away, yes. If you still want them to be able to fly a little so they can get away from predators, you only clip one wing. I *think* you can start to tell around ten weeks old, but there are other ways(vent sexing, the quacks). I don't know when females lay eggs, though.

I don't really know a whole lot on the other breeds, though. Sorry. ): Hopefully someone more experienced will answer.

 

[anatidae]

I have had both Cayugas and Black East Indies. The Cayugas are black and are a lot bigger than the Black East Indies. The Black East Indies have a gorgeous, iridescent, green sheen to the feathers. Both are very docile and friendly breeds. As ducklings it's hard to tell male from female, but with the male ducklings, they will have a little green or yellow tinge to their black bills. Later, the green is more pronounced, the drakes' tail feathers will curl, and they will have a deeper, throatier quack than the hens.

 

[Zombified]

Anatidae, I thought Cayugas also have a green sheen to their feathers?

 

[ducklover87]

You can buy mallards, its not illegal like most people think. Don't worry I thought you couldn't own them either. I'm not sure about mallards in particular as I've never raised them due to the fact of having to clip their wings, but they should molt at about 9 weeks old into their adult feathers and once that happens you should clip their wings. The boys is you have any will molt and their feathers will turn then. Mallards are seasonal layers I believe so I'm not sure when they would start to lay. A quick Google search could tell you or you could ask someone over on the mallard thread. Your Pekin with the crest is not a mix its just a crested Pekin. The crest is actually a deformity on their skull. I will get you the link that talks about this. Yes Pekins grow at fast rates. I currently have 4 butstarted out with 6. They are a dual purpose duck but they are used mostly for meat. Mine are great layers. They have laid an egg almost every day since they started laying. Males will develop the curl. Voice sexing is quicker than waiting for that curl. To voice sex just listen to the quack. If its a loud quack its a girl but if its a lower raspy quack its a boy. The boys kinda sound like they have a sore throat. If they are all black they could either be black east indies or cayugas. The only difference is size. Black east indies are way smaller and can fly while cayugas are bigger and can't. They both will get the green sheen to their feathers. Hope this helps.

Edited to add the link https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/707110/the-truth-behind-crested-ducks

 

[Sweetfolly]

IF they are Mallards when will I need to clip their wings so they do not fly away? They are about a month & a half old, just getting their breast feathers.

I have one Mallard out with my free-range flock of Campbells, Magpies, and Dutch Hookbills. I don't clip his wings - he doesn't fly away because the rest of the flock doesn't fly and he would panic if he ever got separated from the rest of them! If you do need to clip them, DO NOT do it until the wing feathers are done growing in and the shafts are hollow. The feathers are filled with blood while they are growing, and if you clip them too soon, it's a bloody mess!

 

[Zombified]

I personally intend to clip Pyrrhos's wings, unless she turns into a he.