Mystery ducks

[OzarkEgghead]

I picked up 2 partially grown ducks from a lady about an hour away who decided she didn't care for ducks & wanted to stick with chickens. She was giving them away for free just to get them gone.

She "thinks" they're "about 8 weeks old" & she "thinks" they're Pekins but she can't remember what she bought. They came from a local Tractor Supply.

It's been a year since I raised my Anconas so maybe I'm forgetting what ducks starting to feather out look like but I swear these birds look like they possess a frizzle gene!

Can anyone look at these pics & tell me what breed I inherited and approximately how old they are?

 

[sourland]

Someone with more duck knowledge than me may come along, but that looks like wet feather to me. Perhaps these ducks were being raised on an inadequate diet?

 

[KathiQuacks]

These look to be Pekins, yes. They are not 8 weeks old, though. They look more like 4.5 weeks to me.

I agree, their feathers are a bit wet & dirty, which is what’s causing the frizziness. A good diet, clean swimming water, and getting to dry off fully after each swim should help smooth them out.

 

[OzarkEgghead]

These look to be Pekins, yes. They are not 8 weeks old, though. They look more like 4.5 weeks to me.

I agree, their feathers are a bit wet & dirty, which is what’s causing the frizziness. A good diet, clean swimming water, and getting to dry off fully after each swim should help smooth them out.

I got a little more info from the lady I got them from. She says she picked them up at TSC on March 22 so, the 22nd of this month they'll be 8 weeks old. I'm thinking the ducks were an impulse purchase & she had no clue ducks need different care than chickens. I think they were stressed into the wet feather, too. I thought the picture she sent of them before I accepted them was taken in a Tupperware just to contain them for the photo. Nope, that's the container they were living in & they were obviously seriously overcrowded (see picture). They have a better life now, though.....a large yard to play in, a choice of 2 different swimming pools and a 12 x 12 coop with 7 ft ceiling. Once they're done quarantining, they'll also have 9 Ancona & 8 Appleyard duck buddies to keep them company.

 

[KathiQuacks]

I got a little more info from the lady I got them from. She says she picked them up at TSC on March 22 so, the 22nd of this month they'll be 8 weeks old. I'm thinking the ducks were an impulse purchase & she had no clue ducks need different care than chickens. I think they were stressed into the wet feather, too. I thought the picture she sent of them before I accepted them was taken in a Tupperware just to contain them for the photo. Nope, that's the container they were living in & they were obviously seriously overcrowded (see picture). They have a better life now, though.....a large yard to play in, a choice of 2 different swimming pools and a 12 x 12 coop with 7 ft ceiling. Once they're done quarantining, they'll also have 9 Ancona & 8 Appleyard duck buddies to keep them company.

They are stunted if they’re genuinely that old. They should be just about fully feathered by now.
That prior living area is very sad. Thank you for taking them in. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the extra space, pools, and friends.