Sex one week old Pekin Ducling

loubapache

Songster
12 Years
Apr 25, 2010
107
5
176
Michigan
My local TSC has some one week old Pekin Ducklings. I wonder if there is any way to tell their gender by their size or color at this age.

Are the females a little smaller? Among the 20 or so ducklings, a few are noticeably larger than a few others. The store got them last Monday (one week ago).

Thanks,
 

Sunny Side Up

Count your many blessings...
11 Years
Mar 12, 2008
4,730
247
294
Loxahatchee, Florida
The only way I know is to vent-sex them. It's not that difficult to learn, but TSC probably won't want you to practice on their merchandise. I don't think there is much if any difference in their size or colors at this age. They grow fast, so the larger ones could just be a day or two older than the rest.
 

loubapache

Songster
12 Years
Apr 25, 2010
107
5
176
Michigan
Thanks. TSC won't sex them.

I seem to remember reading from somewhere about bill color on Pekin but cannot find the source. I watched the Metzer farm video again and he did not mention Pekins.
 

loubapache

Songster
12 Years
Apr 25, 2010
107
5
176
Michigan
I bought two of these one-week old ducklings. Hope at least one is a female. We lost a very intelligent female Pekin duck this winter and this is to replace her.
55498_2011_duckling_small.jpg
 

DuckLover179

Waddles & Puddles
9 Years
Nov 28, 2010
6,780
10
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California
Quote:
Hoping there isn't a difference of beak color for pekins. I have two supposed to be females from metzer farms, and one has an orange beak, and one has a pink beak!
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Oh well... Now I'm kinda hoping one's a male, cause when I "Miss" an egg for 28 days, and a duckling hatches, my mom can't get mad at me!
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DuckLover179

Waddles & Puddles
9 Years
Nov 28, 2010
6,780
10
221
California
Quote:
Mine have tail feathers. They start sprouting at about 3 weeks, but they're really tiny. Either way, the male wouldn't get the curl until about 4 months old.
 

Metzer Farms

Official BYC Sponsor
11 Years
Oct 11, 2010
37
56
108
Beak color does not relate to sex. Once a duckling gets past 2-3 days, they are harder to vent sex as they are stronger and can resist you easier. By about 8 weeks you can sex by the curly feather on the tail (which designates a male) or by voice. Males develop a deep, raspy quack. Females develop the loud, typical QUACK. But if you are trying to do it strictly by tail feathers, remember that a duck without a curly feather is either a female....... or a male that lost his curly feather! Enjoy!
John Metzer
 

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