My Love Affair With Ducks...

[Mimi13]

This is a post of questions.

Of course I know nothing regarding the difference in male and female duck development, but some things I’ve read (other than the obvious egg laying) are vocalization, tail placement, and plumage, if that’s even what’s it’s called. Are there others?

I would think since male ducks have penises, it would be easy for the hatcheries to sex them, right? What are the chances that I might have gotten an accidental male? Could Petey actually be a male? She is somewhat of a bully, and always gonna get what she wants - food, attention, you name it. In the tub, she sneaks up on all the others and bites them on their little funky looking tails and makes them jump and squeal. Or their feet - picture a shark swimming underwater and attacking an unsuspecting foot It is funny to watch in a way, but I’m sure the others don’t appreciate it.

I am also guessing the cute little ‘nibbling’ they do on my fingers, hands, neck, and wherever is not a good habit and I should discourage it, right?

Also, these appendages called wings!?! Heck, theirs aren’t big enough to keep a Robin in flight. I now know why these fat arses cannot fly. Do the wings begin growing exponentially at any point?

And y’all aren’t kidding about being SSSers (Sharp Sh*t Shooters). Point, Aim, Fire, Splat! Even though there is a copious amount, I do not find it repulsive at all. I am comparing it to a chicken’s cecal and broody - both are utterly disgusting. Duckie poop is just really wet. Does it ever BEGIN to stink or somewhat remain the same, just more of it?

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Female ducklings will begin to quack while the males are still peeping. In my experience behavior depends on the duck, not necessarily the gender. Sexing ducklings is best left to the professionals. At the hatchery they open the vent and look for the penis. You can usually voice sex them about 6 to 8 weeks.

 

[Mimi13]

Female ducklings will begin to quack while the males are still peeping. In my experience behavior depends on the duck, not necessarily the gender. Sexing ducklings is best left to the professionals. At the hatchery they open the vent and look for the penis. You can usually voice sex them about 6 to 8 weeks.

Thank you. Oops, I didn’t mean to confuse you, but I wasn’t gonna start looking up their butts. As my luck would have it, I’d most likely be splattered on. I was just hoping the pros wouldn’t miss the ‘organ.’ Unless, of course, some are less endowed! And, my silly Petey is still peeping away, although it’s still very early. They’re only 2 1/2 weeks old.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Thank you. Oops, I didn’t mean to confuse you, but I wasn’t gonna start looking up their butts. As my luck would have it, I’d most likely be splattered on. I was just hoping the pros wouldn’t miss the ‘organ.’ Unless, of course, some are less endowed! And, my silly Petey is still peeping away, although it’s still very early. They’re only 2 1/2 weeks old.

Sometimes even the pros make a mistake. I have never had a missed duck but did get a gander that was supposed to be a goose.

 

[Mimi13]

I stayed up a good portion of the night - my duck worrying has begun. I am gonna have to revise my outdoor space for them until they are integrated. I don’t have a clue what I was thinking. The little house I built in the corner of the little coop is no bigger than what they’re in right now. That won’t work. I’ve got plenty of room to set up a boundary in the big run for them, but I didn’t want them to think that was their ‘final’ home. Also, once they go outside I’m afraid I won’t be able to let them have water time every day because it’s still too cool. I will have to tote them back and forth to the tub.

I have about decided I’m gonna make a huge cardboard box boundary in my back bathroom for them, well mainly for the shavings since the floor is vinyl. I could put a doggie gate across the door. Don’t yet know what my DH would think of this arrangement yet. There is absolutely no stink or smell whatsoever. I’m able to keep the poop and wetness picked up and out all throughout the day.

Does anyone have any interim brooder ideas?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Just an old woman trying to eat a little nutritious breakfast and watch her ducklings...almost ruined by Petey The Pig! Can you believe it?

You should have shared some of those yummy biscuits with her! - Like two for Petey, one for the other ducklings, ½ for you. Repeat.

 

[duluthralphie]

I stayed up a good portion of the night - my duck worrying has begun. I am gonna have to revise my outdoor space for them until they are integrated. I don’t have a clue what I was thinking. The little house I built in the corner of the little coop is no bigger than what they’re in right now. That won’t work. I’ve got plenty of room to set up a boundary in the big run for them, but I didn’t want them to think that was their ‘final’ home. Also, once they go outside I’m afraid I won’t be able to let them have water time every day because it’s still too cool. I will have to tote them back and forth to the tub.

I have about decided I’m gonna make a huge cardboard box boundary in my back bathroom for them, well mainly for the shavings since the floor is vinyl. I could put a doggie gate across the door. Don’t yet know what my DH would think of this arrangement yet. There is absolutely no stink or smell whatsoever. I’m able to keep the poop and wetness picked up and out all throughout the day.

Does anyone have any interim brooder ideas?

I had answers for all your questions. But by the time I finished reading the rest of the posts I forgot the questions.

I worry if this trend of forgetfulness continues what I will be like when I get out of my prime.

 

[Mimi13]

I had answers for all your questions. But by the time I finished reading the rest of the posts I forgot the questions.

I worry if this trend of forgetfulness continues what I will be like when I get out of my prime.

Good heavens, you’re a nut, Ralphie! But sad thing is, I know what you’re talking about.

 

[Clearwater Chicken]

Uh male ducks have a curly sex feather, just in case you didn't know. but they only get this as adults

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

At 3 weeks old i could clearly identify the boy (Erpelchen) under 13 girls. He was also the smallest duckling of them all. It seems ducklings grow faster first than drakelings.