my mallard drake now looks female

[chixie]

I had 3 mallard drakes... one was killed by dogs ... now one lookes like a hen... his green head is nomore... he even lost his little curly feather... he is a year and a half old...why did this happen? i thought i was crazy...

 

[ChickenToes]

It's completely normal for drakes to lose their breeding plumage. He's in his "eclipse" plumage right now, where they resemble females.

 

[streemers]

chixie

happy i read this i would pooh myself if my drake turned to a hen lol

 

[chixie]

It was a real shock ... there is absolutelyno green on his head anymore... i almost thought someone was messing with mymind and switched ducks on me...lol

 

[ducklover15]

Oh do drakes do this often?

Mine is starting to get brown on his head and is molting like crazy. Will he do this every year?

 

[goosedragon]

Yes every year when the mating season is over the boys take off their bright colors (there to attract the ladies) and get dull so the predators can't find them so easily.

 

[chixie]

i don't know why i couldn't think of that... my other drake is stating to do that now

 

[alaskaduckgirl]

Do rouen drakes do the same thing?

 

[Ducklove334]

my mallard boys going through his fall moult right now, he's lost ALL that attractive silver on his belly, and the rust on his neck and chest, and now his head is losing his green feathers and...he looks absolutely depressed! LOL

 

[xfilesnumber1fan]

My boys are done with the molt...They looked funny as girls..The darker one was killed 2 months ago...I sure miss him so does his brother...