Oh Boy!!! calling all duck experts,lol

[ozark hen]

I could tell which of my mallards was a drake by the "voice". Hens are very loud and the drake was much softer sounding. Also the black on the head became more solid on the drake, the drake's tail feathers will definitely curl up. His feathers will take on a lovely grey color and his chest a brownish color. His head will turn a beautiful green/black. But I think that one of the first things was his head becoming a solid color whereas the hens just have a stripe on their heads with large grey/brownish patches that the hens won't have on their bodies.
If you can see it (this is the only photo I have of the feather change) you can see the mallard on the far right, his feathers are coming in ...in a beautiful shade of grey.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Thanks, bayouchica, I couldn't resist that quote once I found it.

I also don't mind the man who first said it.

Wishing you a happy spring full of abundant duckiness!

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I wonder if you haven't heard them talk much because they are mostly drakes? I had a hatch with a similar duck to drake ratio and we don't remember hearing them much until the day the duck found her voice, and boy, then we heard plenty! LOL.

 

[Katy]

I wonder too if you don't have all drakes. I don't have mallards...I've got calls...but my girls find their voices early on and are very loud.

Ozark hen....I like your turtle/tortoise!

 

[bayouchica]

Hey Ozark, what pretty ducks. Nice pic, is the turtle real?
It would be just my luck if they are all drakes.

I'm always hatching roos, might as well drakes too.

Time will tell.
Oh Drakemaiden, Micheal Caine still looks good to me even tho he's old-er

I have had so much fun with these ducks,hoping I get 15 more mallards this spring.I'll have my hands full,but they are so cute.

 

[ozark hen]

Bayouchica, yes, the turtle is real. It wandered into the yard and it was a hoot to watch everyone gather around to see "what is this thing?" Here they are gathered for a "look see".

They followed this poor turtle all around the yard. Here you have to look for the turtle. It is on the right up next to the porch. Poor thing was afraid they were going to eat him.

 

[FluffyChickenMama]

when I was growing up my mom had a slew of mallards and the males had green heads.. there was definitely a big difference between the looks of a male and female... Im not sure what age the color changes take place.. but they are gorgeous birds..

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/NDG/Ducks/BRKMallards.html

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Yep, he's a looker.

Well if worst comes to worst, at least the drakes make elegant, living "lawn ornaments."

If you do end up with too many drakes and if you decide you don't want to get rid of them, be prepared to keep them separated from your duck. Just before the duck begins to lay, the boys will start to gang up on her and they can hurt her. But in times she is not laying (when she's molting, or nesting or whatnot), they will all get along fine.

I hope you get a better ratio this coming spring.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

LOL. Great photo op of the circle of poultry stalking the turtle! I bet they did want to eat it. One of my Runner ducks caught a frog the other day and ran around the yard like crazy with it hanging from one leg out of his bill, and flopping all around. If I hadn't been upset for the wellfare of the frog it would have been comical.

 

[dragonlili]

Ok, while I have the duck lovers' attention...

I have 2 Runner mixes. They were supposed to be a drake and a duck, Lazlo and Lucy. Do runner drakes get the drake feather? They are about 4 1/2 months old, so it's not long until I have an egg to prove my intuition, but I think they are both females.
1) They are noisy
2) My Dutch Roo had his way with both of them (am I wrong in assuming that no self-respecting drake would allow this?)