Pinkish/Pale bills

[RoosterGeek]

I'm raising 50 Pekin ducks out and this is my first real go at raising ducks. All of my ducks are very lively and seem healthy. They are gaining weight and eating just fine. A few of them have pale bills and nowhere near the orange color of my adult Pekin drakes.




The thread located here didn't seem very conclusive on this issue. Does anyone have some insight on this matter?

 

[aineheartsyou]

I am not sure

maybe they just dont fit the standard?

 

[LemonDoodles]

What is your question? I have two pekins, both drakes, one has a bright orange bill the other pale (pink when he was a baby). They are both healthy. I think it is just a genetic thing. Why do I have blonde hair and you have brown? Same idea.

 

[duckyfromoz]

I have had some pekins and white runners hatch with orange bills - that then fade to pink for a few weeks before coming back to the more vibrant orange again. It can at times also be a sign that there is cross breeding going on- some people also say it can have something to do with the amount of sunlight the duckling is getting- or if they are raised in a brooder or outside on the grass.

 

[duck15]

maybe an aylesbury duck
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Ducks/Ayles/BRKAyles.html

 

[SassyKat6181]

I have three Pekins that I got from Ideal this spring. One has a bright orange bill, one is light orange and one is a pale/pink. Maybe you get better quality with non-hatchery birds. I don't care if the bill color is off as mine are for pets and we love them no matter what.

 

[Senna95]

I think I remember reading somewhere that female pekin's bills will turn paler when they've been laying a lot of eggs. My best layers' bill was pale compared to the less prolific layers and the males.

Don't know what causes it in young ducks though.

 

[Kmoreau]

I have 2 pekins, my drake ( which I rescued) has a dark bright orange bill and feet. My female Pekin (which I bought) had a pale pinkish colored bill and feet. It has gotten darker but still much lighter then my drakes. It's like a light orange now. I though maybe she was a Aylesbury cross. I don't know if it's just a genetic thing, but I don't think it's a good indication of sex... I have seen Pekin females with bright orange bills too. I havent heard about them being good layers, but mine is still too young for that, I'll let you know when she reaches laying age. Good luck

 

[evansacres]

I got four ducklings last year and one of them had a pale pink, almost purple bill. The other three were bright orange. It turned out that I had two males and two females. My children called the duckling "Purple Beak" and the name is still with her today She is fine and healthy although seems to need more calcium then the other duck. Other then that there are no issues. I think it is just a case of a mixed breeding somewhere...

 

[simplify]

I know this is an old thread but adding for any new readers. I got 5 pekin hen ducklings from Mertzer in Jan 2018 ( it's Feb 2018 now). Healthy, they all had mauve color bills. After 3 wks their bills are orange except one. I'm waiting to see if it changes but so far they are healthy. Maybe pink is the norm and it changes to orange with age.