My Mallards

[GoingQuackers]

I see a couple of birds that are developing a greenish tint to their bills. That is usually a good indication that you have males.

They are beautiful, by the way! I love my mallards!

 

[duckking]

I love my mallards too. The drakes do not sound anything like the females. They have a raspy, low kind of quack that sounds like they have a really sore throat. Much quieter. If you have real loud quackers, they are females. I was the same as you when we originally got ours, but when we finally got a drake, the difference was apples and oranges.

Enjoy them. We've got some hatching as I write this!

 

[fowl farm]

I see a couple of birds that are developing a greenish tint to their bills. That is usually a good indication that you have males.

They are beautiful, by the way! I love my mallards!

Thanks! Two of my birds have the greenish beak. I was a little afraid I would end up with 4 males and 2 females, but it's visa-versa, which seems pretty fair for the girls.

 

[desertdarlene]

I see at least 3 males and one female, but I can't tell the rest. Generally, males will begin to get their adult plumage around 5 months of age, but their bills will turn green or yellow and their voice will turn raspy as early as six weeks. I have never heard of any mallards living to 20 years old. The average lifespan is about 8 years, some may live to 10 or 11 if all their health needs are met.

 

[fowl farm]

I do have one whose bill is kind of yellow, but I thought that was a girl. Will a hens bill just be black?

 

[szkutnik]

How old are they? Mallard drakes don't get their tail curls or their beautiful colors until 4-5 months of age. My ducks all looked and sounded female until that age. It blew my mind watching them go through a second awkward feather phase to change colors.

If you end up with no drakes, I'll gladly give you my three! My drake to hen ratio is way off! Too many boys!


These were my mallards at around 2 months old!

 

[fowl farm]

They look like they have a destination in mind! Mine are 7 weeks and getting ready for their next stage in life- flying! Here's a question: do ducks have 'leaders'?

 

[showcase7384]

My mallard that I believe is male has a white collar around his neck. He is 6 weeks old and getting a lot of green on his head. His tail feathers already seem to be starting to curl. His voice is super deep. I think all of yours are females.

 

[duckking]

These are my 3 mallards and a Rouen (the front duckling) at about 3 months of age. I was told "for certain" the Rouen and the one facing left were drakes. Well they all turned out to be female. The Rouen even developed a sort of white ring around her neck for awhile, but it disappeared at about 5 months. Her quack was extremely low pitched, but it was a quack. The drakes just don't sound at all like they quack. You'll know soon enough!!!!

 

[fowl farm]

I just wanted to say thanks for all the info. My males got their voice. I love hearing their quack . But I have another question. My biggest is a male. I think. I've never heard him "quack", like my girls, but he doesn't really sound like the boys either. Thoughts?