Moscuvy ducklings question

[Johnchickens2]

Hi! I have two Muscovy ducklings. They are the same age, about 3 weeks. They were vent sexed at about 1 week old and seemed to be females. Now, one of them is bigger than the other, grew tail feathers faster abd its legs and bill are bigger then the other. Also, it is much more active than the other. Can it be male and the smaller one is female?

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Sure. Took them into the house because its already dark outside.

They are lovely! Definitely be patient! I didn’t feel even remotely confident about the sex of my white Muscovy until she was well over 4 months old. Posting pictures here got varied responses until then. She’s always been bigger and more solid than her sister and was also very quiet in the beginning. I’d finally decided she was 100% a drake, but then questioned why she wasn’t continuing to develop drake-like traits as she aged. One of the lovely experienced folks on here told me with confidence that it was because she’s a female! So, anyways, be patient and keep posting updated photos! Even if it’s still unclear, Muscovy duckling photos are always welcome! Oh, and beware of the “female Muscovies have pointy tails” tip. I have no idea if that is specific to certain strains, but my two have very rounded tails and are female!

 

[Johnchickens2]

Sure. Took them into the house because its already dark outside.

 

[ruthhope]

Lovely ducklings! Its not possible to sex ducklings at 3 weeks old. Muscovy ducklings grow along the same growth curve for 6 weeks then the females stop growing and the males continue to grow . Any variation in size at 3 weeks is just that normal variation in size. Some are slightly smaller, some slightly larger like people

 

[ruthhope]

Thank you! So, it is still possible that they both are the same gender, despite the size/legs/bill? Hopefully females. BTW the person who vent-sexed them said they are both females.....

Its possible.

Watch the ducklings growth -- weight and size. If the bigger one continues to grow faster and increase the size difference over the next three weeks, it could be male.

Last year I had two rescued muscovy ducklings. One grew very quickly and was assumed to be male so named Max. Max just stopped growing at female muscovy size and was female. The other grew along the female growth curve and was a very sweet duckling that preened the other ducklings and lay with head and neck across the other duckling. He kept growing and is now a very large soft lump of a muscovhy drake. So early guesses can be wrong!

 

[Johnchickens2]

Thank you all!
I was thinking that the fact its bigger and has thicker legs, means its a male. But i will just have to wait.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Thank you all!
I was thinking that the fact its bigger and has thicker legs, means its a male. But i will just have to wait.

And THAT is the hard part!

 

[Quatie]

Oh, and beware of the “female Muscovies have pointy tails” tip. I have no idea if that is specific to certain strains, but my two have very rounded tails and are female!

I haven't found that to be true either. I have females with pointy tails, some with round. Same with my drakes too. One is pointy and one is round. I have found this to be more of an urban legend.

I will also say some Muscovy you can sex pretty early and fairly easily. While others closer to the middle can take a bit longer to confirm. One of my females is very smaller. I got them from the breeder and they were 5-6 weeks old and super obvious at that point. Their feather growth is also different at that age too. But others that age were harder to tell.

 

[Quatie]

Thank you, by the look of them now - there isnt any assumption to be assumed? I am very curious!

No, they are still a little bit too young to be certain. But in couple weeks it may become more obvious. You may find your initial thought to be correct, but only time will tell for sure.

 

[Johnchickens2]

I haven't found that to be true either. I have females with pointy tails, some with round. Same with my drakes too. One is pointy and one is round. I have found this to be more of an urban legend.

I will also say some Muscovy you can sex pretty early and fairly easily. While others closer to the middle can take a bit longer to confirm. One of my females is very smaller. I got them from the breeder and they were 5-6 weeks old and super obvious at that point. Their feather growth is also different at that age too. But others that age were harder to tell.

Thank you, by the look of them now - there isnt any assumption to be assumed? I am very curious!