Pekin duck question

[MommaBugg]

Ok so I have three pekins, one has a cute black spot on the back of his head. Does that indicate something? Is that a trait of a full blooded pekin or xbreed. I honestly do not care if he is xbred, just wondering. Has anyone else had a pekin with any black markings? My husband picked him out because of the dot, but I told him it will most likely disappear with the rest of his baby down. I have no way to upload pics of him at the moment or I would. Also they grow SO fast. I call this one a he because I think his tail feathers are starting to curl a bit. He was born March 1st and is starting to get his big kid feathers, and is now about 3-4 times bigger than when we got him

Thanks for any responses or ideas any of you may have!

 

[duckyfromoz]

They wont get the curl in the tail if they are male until 3- 4 months old and after molting, its not something you can see when they are starting to feather up.However your ducklings may now be old enough to sex by the voice. The females are the louder ones. Listen closely every day and you will start to hear a change in their voices the femakles voice will deepen and get louder while the drakes voice will develop a more raspy whispery quality to it.

Without going too in depth into genetics... a black spot now may result in a single or a patch of darker feathers to grow into that spot when older. There are different strains of Pekins- those that are show quality standard bred birds- and others that are classed as " Utility " birds. These are ofter crossed with other breeds to reduce inbreedig within a flock. The few dark feathers is likely to be some throwback to a cross many generations ago. But it could also mean you pekin is a cross breed.

Hope this has helped in some way.

 

[MommaBugg]

It does help thanks

So I guess the curling is just a cute baby trait and nothing to hold my breath about? LOL thats cool. I think the older two may be males anyway though because theyre not very vocal. They have sweet quiet raspy quacks, but that can still change right? My husband likes to say 'aflack' to the ducks, and I swear they sound like they try to copy him

But they are so huge now.. I swear they have growth spurts every couple of hours. I go to refresh their water every couple hours or so.. and they look bigger every time I see them, and they just tilt their head and give the cutest looks. I wasnt even planning on getting ducks this year, but ended up with 8.. Now I am hooked.. I'm all ducky now

 

[2txmedics]

I have 2 Pekins also....born about the first also....they still have there baby crys...

and one, I named COOPER...his little tail feathers curl alittle...they are turning white, but they are only 2wks old...so I know its too young to tell if its a drake...Im hoping so, with a name like Cooper, the others arent named yet...still thinking.

 

[MommaBugg]

Well I am thinking that my daughters duck may be a girl. Today while swimming in the bathtub she let out a loud "p-p-quack!".. it started out as a baby peep, and ended in a quack. She never did that before and hasnt since

 

[2txmedics]

lol I cant wait til mine chg from the peep to the quacks!!!! even a heavy nasal quack...

 

[atikin]

I also have a pekin duckling with a black spot on its head
when the duckling grew up did it keep its black spot?

 

[Onewiththeducks]

It's so funny to hear their voices change!