Pekin Duck Club!

[Triple A]

I have 2 Pekin ducks that are about 5 or 6 weeks old. I don't know if they are male or female. One of them quacks and the other one chirps so I was thinking I had one of each but not so sure anymore. They both look like they have drake feathers??? Could someone please help? Thanks

 

[earlyredrooster]

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I have 2 Pekin ducks that are about 5 or 6 weeks old. I don't know if they are male or female. One of them quacks and the other one chirps so I was thinking I had one of each but not so sure anymore. They both look like they have drake feathers??? Could someone please help? Thanks

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From what I can glean the female will have the classic QUACK but the males voice will be raspy and rough sounding. Also I was told the drake feather won't show till about sixteen weeks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's definitely starting to look better

It sure is, great news!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote: I doubt it's a drake feather your seeing at that age, now you may be able to tell by picking each up, ducks will quack loudly drake will be raspy quack. And sometimes the drake will still chirp when the duck is already quacking

 

[jaimitastic]

As long as they're fully feathered you should not need a heat lamp. And a spot to get out of the rain. Mine love just sitting in the rain. Even with these low temps

Okay thanks! They are out of rain, the top is completely enclosed. I guess I only need to worry about wind blowing in rain.

 

[NewfieMom]

I went by TSC this weekend to pick up a few chicks for my Buff Orpington to surrogate (since her hatching skills are quite lacking.) They had all the chicks and ducklings on clearance! Oh my word.. my 3-4 chicks turned into 12 chicks and 2 lil ducklings!! I already have 4 Khaki Campbells and I think the little brown duckling may be a Campbell. The other duckling is about twice the size of the brown (no telling how old they are) and just a big yellow fuzz ball! So I'm thinking it's a Pekin. When it is separated from the little brown duckling it goes to chirping/whistling so loud you can hear it outside!
Does this mean I may have a female???

 

[wildsam]

I think the little brown duckling may be a Campbell. The other duckling is about twice the size of the brown (no telling how old they are) and just a big yellow fuzz ball! So I'm thinking it's a Pekin. When it is separated from the little brown duckling it goes to chirping/whistling so loud you can hear it outside!
Does this mean I may have a female???

Lol. My SO bought me one just like it after I saw one too this weekend. Then when I got home 2 days later our ducklings had gone from 6 to 7 and he was a screamer too!

Last year when we got one like it (we actually got 2 and he was the bigger one) it turned out to be a female. But there is no sure telling until you hear the voice change or see a drake feather later on. Vent sexing at this point is too hurtful for it IMO. But congrats on the sale madness! I would probably have done the same!

 

[Shalva]

I just moved the ducklings from their rubbermaid bin to the swimming pool in the dog pen. I put them in the dogs swimming pool wiht hay and some chicken wire around the edge so that it raises the height of the sides so they can't jump out. The water is on a storage bin and I drilled a ton of holes in the top to drain the water ... I may have to make the holes bigger but i think it will help to keep the pen dryer .... the food is up on a cinderblock... my biggest concern is that it is warm enough but they are 3 weeks and I figure with the deep hay they should be ok.

 

[Mrs.H]

This may have been already asked before, 2 questions actually, when can my 2 pekins have a 24/7 pool, they prob about 4 weeks old now, I'm in the south so it's hot and pretty warm at night. I think I've read they have to be fully feathered so their oil glands produce, and they take up to 2 months to feather. Really got to wait that long?

Question 2: Do you guys give them access to a pool in the winter? Again in the south so it gets cold but not freezing for the entire season either.

Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

I wonder if you can give them a shallow pan they can easily step into and out of for cooling off. The concern is that ducklings - not fully feathered and oiled up - are at more risk of drowning.