New to this and ducks

[TheDrake]

I got 4 ducklings a week ago tomorrow. It's my first time... Be gentle I have been googling like crazy and that's how I came across this site. I love my baby ducks and want to take very good care of them. They are about 5 weeks old. I do not know if they are boys or girls. I hope to find out soon.

 

[GitaBooks]

Welcome to BYC and the wonderful world of poultry!

I own chickens, but not ducks. At least not yet.

I hope to be getting some soon.

There is a lot of good information on here and a lot of people who love talking about their animals and helping each other. I'm glad you could join our flock!

Best of luck to you and your ducklings.

 

[TheDrake]

I like your chicken. Thank you for the welcome. I have read so many posts while researching ducks that I finally decided to join. I am happy to be here

and happy to be a duck owner

 

[marcelineduckie]

have you heard any signs of quacking? girls will normally start to make honking noises around that time, boys will peep and be more quiet with raspier sounds developing later around 7 weeks. welcome to byc! everyone on here is so helpful and wonderfully awesome you'll get tons of great advice for and questions you have

 

[TheDrake]

No quaking yet, still all peeping. The only difference I can tell at all out of the 4 is one of their beaks seems to be starting to turn yellow, at the top on the sides. This makes me think perhaps it is a drake and the other three are girls or hens or whatever I'm supposed to call them, female. But of course I am not sure. I hope every day that their voices will change and I will be able to tell.

 

[marcelineduckie]

hmm well beak color isn't the best method for sexing, my American pekin has a pinkish pale beak she gets this from recessive genes. hoping you get some quackers girls are fun I don't have boys though so I can't tell you about them mine started giving little once in a while honks about 3 weeks but every duck is different

 

[Debs Flock]

I got 4 ducklings a week ago tomorrow. It's my first time... Be gentle

I have been googling like crazy and that's how I came across this site. I love my baby ducks and want to take very good care of them. They are about 5 weeks old. I do not know if they are boys or girls. I hope to find out soon.

Hello and welcome! What kind of ducklings do you have?

 

[Alexandra33]

Welcome to BYC, TheDrake! Your female ducklings should communicate in a loud, piercing squeak while the drakes will sound hoarse like they have laryngitis. My Mallard drake was easily discernible from the girls right away. I would say that if they all have the same shrill peeping voice, that they are all females. Enjoy raising your babies; they grow so fast.

-Alexandra33

 

[Debs Flock]

I have 2 Rouens & 2 Pekins. Thankfully, I ended up with just one drake! It was around 7 weeks when I could discern definite quacks vs. the hoarse sounding voice. LOL...yes, it sounds a bit painful for the drake, like he has a sore throat or laryngitis.

Oh! It was around that same time, 7 weeks of age that I noticed the beginning of his drake feather, too.

 

[needlessjunk]

Welcome. Here is a link on caring for ducklings that is super helpful https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711 and here is a link on what to look for when sexing http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/artquacks.htm. My girls started to make girl honking noises between 3-6 weeks and my boys didn't start getting raspy till 9-10 weeks. If they are still only peeping there is a good chance they are boys.