Question about Mallards?

[chikalady]

My husband bought 2 baby mallards last week. I don't know anything about them. I would love to have some info. from all of you that might be helpful. When can you tell what sex they are? They are so cute.

 

[ChickenToes]

You'll be able to tell the sex by two ways. At about 8 weeks old they start making adult duck noises, for lack of a better term. If you hear one (or both) of them quack, then it's a female. Males make a hoarse, whispery sound, they do not quack. Also, at about 11 weeks old, drakes get a curly feather on their tail. Don't hold me to the exact ages I mentioned above, every ducky is different and matures at a different rate.

You will have to clip their wings when they are older and have all of their adult feathers, or they'll fly away.

If you do have a female, it will go broody every spring. They lay small, green eggs.

Mallards are probably my favorite duck breed, I hope you enjoy yours!

 

[classroomducks]

males will also get the green head feathering...the males and females are very distinctive in coloring. I have two mallards that dont have their wings clipped...they are 6 months old...the will fly around every now and then but they never go very far and they always come back. So clipping is not necessarily required...they are fun ducks though...very noisy but funny.