My Duckies are two weeks old today :) What should I be looking for?

[kzane23]

When do you starting getting feathers? Or quacking (or not) I have a big thick legged Swedish Blue and a slightly smaller, thinner legged Magpie. Any sexing ideas? I new to this whole poultry thing

 

[stonesight]

Feathers come slow for ducks. Should be a few poking out of the tail about now, and you'll start seeing more in a couple weeks.

As for sexing, liston to them. At about 3 or 4 months the boys have raspy soft quacks. When you hear a loud clear quacking like Donald Duck laughing look quick because that's a girl. Around 5 months the boys will get a curly tail feather on top.

In my experience ducks like to snuggle people with their face tucked in, they will lie down if you gently cup under their chest, They prefer holding still when you touch them rather than being stroked, and they are uncomfortable being touched on the back or butt. Handle them gently and often so they dont become stand offish- slow movements.

Good luck and have fun!