New Duck Dad

[Petes72]

My daughter bought 2 ducks this past Father's Day at local TSC to try and p*ss me and my wife off Instead I had her get 2 more. All supposed to be Cayuga unsexed. I believe I have 2 Cayuga and 2 Swedish black or blue. In trying to determine sex over the past few months I believe I have 3 drakes and only 1 hen. Not many curled tail feathers and no distinct vocalization difference I can confirm. Anyone able to help? I'm concerned the ratio will be very bad for single hen if this is the case. I'll upload and add links to photos

 

[Colley12]

My daughter bought 2 ducks this past Father's Day at local TSC to try and p*ss me and my wife off Instead I had her get 2 more. All supposed to be Cayuga unsexed. I believe I have 2 Cayuga and 2 Swedish black or blue. In trying to determine sex over the past few months I believe I have 3 drakes and only 1 hen. Not many curled tail feathers and no distinct vocalization difference I can confirm. Anyone able to help? I'm concerned the ratio will be very bad for single hen if this is the case. I'll upload and add links to photos

Welcome to BYC!!

Looking forward to pictures!!

My drakes have a very distinct "froggy" raspy voice. And my ladies definitely quack loudly and have all sorts of other sounds.

I have 2 drakes and only one has the drake curl feather. Mine are 12 weeks. I could tell sounds after 8 weeks or so and that seem to be the more reliable.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Welcome, and grats on becoming a duck dad! Just a warning that this hobby is addictive.

The best way is indeed by their voices. Pick one up and walk away from the others, and you will soon be rewarded by a raspy sound or a clear loud QUACK!

 

[ruthhope]

Welcome!
You are correct that if you haaave three drkes and one female there sill be truble an the poor femaae will come of the worse for it.
If you want your duks as pets rather than as producers, you will have little difficulty rehoming a healthy females and you might retain the drakes into an all drake flock.
Its accepted that the best ration for drakes to females is 1:4 (or more)

there are duck couples that do just fine; my son has 1 pekin drake and 2 female pekins, and they do OK

But 3 drakes to 1 female wont work

If you want to keep your existing birds you will need another 9 to 11 females

 

[Petes72]

My daughter bought 2 ducks this past Father's Day at local TSC to try and p*ss me and my wife off Instead I had her get 2 more. All supposed to be Cayuga unsexed. I believe I have 2 Cayuga and 2 Swedish black or blue. In trying to determine sex over the past few months I believe I have 3 drakes and only 1 hen. Not many curled tail feathers and no distinct vocalization difference I can confirm. Anyone able to help? I'm concerned the ratio will be very bad for single hen if this is the case. I'll upload and add links to photos

 

[SilverBirds]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Petes72]

Ducks

 

[Petes72]

My daughter bought 2 ducks this past Father's Day at local TSC to try and p*ss me and my wife off Instead I had her get 2 more. All supposed to be Cayuga unsexed. I believe I have 2 Cayuga and 2 Swedish black or blue. In trying to determine sex over the past few months I believe I have 3 drakes and only 1 hen. Not many curled tail feathers and no distinct vocalization difference I can confirm. Anyone able to help? I'm concerned the ratio will be very bad for single hen if this is the case. I'll upload and add links to photos

I will try and get audio of each. Thank you all

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Welcome! I definitely see two Drake's at least from your pictures. A blue swedish with an early start to a Drake curl and a Cayuga with drake curls. The rest I would have to hear to be able to tell at this age.

 

[ruthhope]

Welcome, and so glad you lije ducks and are not p*ssed off by ducks!!!

Your ducks are gorgeous!!!