Sexing by size

[LydiaB]

So I have an interesting observation I have made from 2 straight run hatches so far. At about 3-4 weeks, you can tell who is male of female by size. Now, you would think larger=boy. But it’s actually the opposite. I have successfully figured out genders just by looking to see who is bigger- those are females. And the smaller ones are males. One hatch was 11 ducklings and the other was 3. Currently my hatch of 17 doesn’t have quite enough size difference to tell, but they are one week old.

Has anyone else done this and found it accurate?

 

[ruthhope]

What type of ducks do you have?

I had a rescued female muscovy who was thought to be male and was named Max, as she grew so fast. But she stopped growing at 6 weeks and started babbling female fashion.

I also have a rescued muscovy drake, Daffy, who I thought was female as he was smaller than the growth charts found on line for commercially raised muscovy. He continued growing until 12 weeks old and is now a 14lb whopper of a drake!! That said, Max was several weeks older than Daffy and I didn't get her until she was 12 or so weeks. Thus I could not give you a comparison of their sizes at 3-4 weeks

 

[LydiaB]

What type of ducks do you have?

I had a rescued female muscovy who was thought to be male and was named Max, as she grew so fast. But she stopped growing at 6 weeks and started babbling female fashion.

I also have a rescued muscovy drake, Daffy, who I thought was female as he was smaller than the growth charts found on line for commercially raised muscovy. He continued growing until 12 weeks old and is now a 14lb whopper of a drake!! That said, Max was several weeks older than Daffy and I didn't get her until she was 12 or so weeks. Thus I could not give you a comparison of their sizes at 3-4 weeks

I have mallard derived breeds. Cayuga, Ancona, blue Swedish etc.

 

[KathiQuacks]

It’s great that it’s been successful for you! I’m curious to see if you can for the next 17. I’ve never seen a noticeable difference personally, so I stick to voice-sexing.

 

[Luv Ducks]

It’s great that it’s been successful for you! I’m curious to see if you can for the next 17. I’ve never seen a noticeable difference personally, so I stick to voice-sexing.

My Call ducks started out the boy being bigger than the girl. The girl had issues though and by 6 weeks she was a lot bigger than he was once I got her straightened out. They kept me guessing for a while. I have two Rouen ducks that have the green bills and black rumps and still peeping at over 6 weeks old so I am calling them boys for sure. I have never seen a green billed hen in Rouen ducks nor a black rump. They have pointed tails though and that is what all of my females have. The males have blunt tails so that is a fooler. Not sure why they have that.

 

[LydiaB]

I’ll keep you all posted. So far I’d say 6 female. But the Ancona seem smaller in general than the other ducklings. The Ancona eggs were shipped from someone else. So I’m not sure if that will skew the results… it’s also a bit early to tell on general because there is a 3 day difference in hatch dates from start to finish. Still have a better idea in a week or 2.

 

[LydiaB]

So yesterday I took some pics and tried to compare sizes. I think it’s an even split…. But it’s super hard to tell because for whatever reason (probably shipping) the Ancona are smaller in general. So currently I’d say 8 of each. one chocolate one died so I have 16 now.

 

[LydiaB]

I'm definitely pegging the solid khaki/gray one as a female. She’s the largest of all of them. Most of the bibbed gray ones are large as well, and the black bibbed ones are small. The Anconas are mixed, the chocolate one is small so I think (and hope) boy. If he is a boy I can do sex linked breeding with almost all of my ducks. Unfortunately I need more than one to cover everyone though.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I'm definitely pegging the solid khaki/gray one as a female. She’s the largest of all of them. Most of the bibbed gray ones are large as well, and the black bibbed ones are small. The Anconas are mixed, the chocolate one is small so I think (and hope) boy. If he is a boy I can do sex linked breeding with almost all of my ducks. Unfortunately I need more than one to cover everyone though.

I could figure out my Khaki males as they always had the darker rumps. My females had a lighter one. That always rang true for me when it came to sexing Khaki Campbells.

 

[LydiaB]

I could figure out my Khaki males as they always had the darker rumps. My females had a lighter one. That always rang true for me when it came to sexing Khaki Campbells.

Never heard of a different rump color. Glad it worked for you. I don’t have much experience with khakis, I’ve mostly had other breeds. Never stuck with one long enough to really know them, but I’m slowly switching to an Ancona flock, at least for drakes. Probably will keep my hens for a while yet. I really like them all.