Runner duck sexing question

[JinxieKat]

I'm a first time duck owner. We bought 4 ducklings April 21st. They are now going to be 14 weeks old. George, one of the black runners, is getting the curls on his tails; 2 to be exact. Ringo, the other black runner, has a slight curl to his tail feathers but his are not looking anything like George's. They are both doing the low quacking and have been for the last 3 weeks.

My two fawns, Cappuccino & Cafe au lait, both have flat tail feathers and have been chirping loudly. They just started quacking like drakes 2 days ago.

This is a silly question, but can girls quack like boys? I only ask because the two fawns keeps changing the noises they make. They will be chirping louder then George & Ringo and then the next minute they will be quacking like them.

I'm concerned because I have 1 adult female (Odette) and 1 10 week old female (Chloe). I'm pretty sure this is not a good drake to gen ratio.

Any suggestions??

 

[chickens really]

Hens Quack....Make chirp sounds too but the Quack is a quack!...Sounds like you have two Drakes for sure ...

 

[JinxieKat]

I know for sure the two black runners are drakes.

I'm now pretty sure that the fawns are drakes. They just haven't gotten their tail feathers in yet and haven't stuck with the male quack.

I was really hoping to get 1 hen out of the bunch. That would at least give me a 50/50 split.

I just hate getting rid of any of them but I know the older they get the more aggressive they will become with the 2 girls.

 

[chickens really]

I know for sure the two black runners are drakes.

I'm now pretty sure that the fawns are drakes. They just haven't gotten their tail feathers in yet and haven't stuck with the male quack.

I was really hoping to get 1 hen out of the bunch. That would at least give me a 50/50 split.

I just hate getting rid of any of them but I know the older they get the more aggressive they will become with the 2 girls.

Yes, Drakes are hard on Hens...One Drake to even 8 Hens is a great ratio....I separate my Ducks During breeding season so I have zero issues with fighting or over breeding...

 

[Miss Lydia]

1 Drake to 8 ducks is nice ratio but not necessary. 1 Drake to 4 ducks is much more easily acquired.

 

[JinxieKat]

My goal was to have 1 drake out of 6 ducks. My husband doesn't want more than 7 or 8 ducks total. Our yard cannot handle it.