Sexing Ducklings (Please check here first :D )

[Kevin565]

It's not a problem at all I sometimes get confused when I see some of stickies in the open forum as well.

 

[bubbastump22]

ok so out of 7 ducks i just sexed i got 2 males and 5 hens.. 2 caygua or runners males , 2 blue swedish hens,3 pekins (1) reg (2) crested.. now i got to try and get me a blue swed male..

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
I have no experienced people up near my way or people that are not willing to show me.

So should I just kind of, go for it. Or are there any Videos that can help.

Your explanation is very clear but as a newbie I really don't want to stuff it up.

I really just want to be kind of the first person around my parts to be able to actually do it so I can help people out at auctions and such things.

Also when doing this, can I wear gloves or will it be to hard?

 

[Davlyn]

My runner drake has a bit of a 'goosie' honk and it's almost as loud as the ducks' quacks. He's also more verbal than one might expect, but maybe that's because he 'thinks' he's in charge and needs to always be telling everyone whether it's time to forage, or swim, or preen, or rest, or 'run and hide!'.

Could you tell my the plumage at a day old which is a male or female ? The video I watched from a hatchery said most always males were darker.
TY

 

[PrintedPerfect]

I have a little Pekin duck, I am guessing she's maybe 3 weeks old now. She, ha - that's what I am trying to find out!

Years ago I had a 'domestic white' duck, which I think may have actually been a Pekin. As babes they look the same. Anyhow, that little duck would make a very, very loud "PEEP!" noise as she would chase behind me in the house, and when she got older would quack quite loudly. I had to send her to live on a farm when she was a few months old, so I don't really know if she was a she either - it didn't lay eggs while I had it.

Now this duck that I have has never made that loud "PEEP". She/he makes little birdy chirps, but I am hearing it make a moaning groan type noise like it's humming. Does this help distinguish the sex? I really want a girl and am afraid they will sell out before I know.

 

[brood mother]

I have 2 blue and 2 black Swedish ducklings. They are about a week old. Is there any particular way that is easier to us to see them? Only one has a name because it was fairly unisex, and my daughter picked it. One of the black Swedish is now "Pepper".

 

[JosaylnBrown]

Hey,
Got a question for you guys! Does this look like the beginnings of a drake feather? It does to me but I am being hopeful! I want a drake!!! I think Splotch is about 5 weeks? A-lot of the feathers are grown in. Not fully but for the most part yes. Breast is completely feathered, head is molting and so is back, you can see partial wing feathers as well.



The one feather sticking up is what I am wondering about. It is in the middle of the tail feathers is slightly shorter and looks to me like it is starting to curl.

Yes? No? Maybe?
thanks!

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

Hey,
Got a question for you guys! Does this look like the beginnings of a drake feather? It does to me but I am being hopeful! I want a drake!!! I think Splotch is about 5 weeks? A-lot of the feathers are grown in. Not fully but for the most part yes. Breast is completely feathered, head is molting and so is back, you can see partial wing feathers as well.



The one feather sticking up is what I am wondering about. It is in the middle of the tail feathers is slightly shorter and looks to me like it is starting to curl.

Yes? No? Maybe?
thanks!

What's the breed? I was thinking five weeks is pretty young to be getting a sex feather. My runner ducks are 11 weeks old, and still don't have their sex feathers. The way I can tell them apart is by their size differences (the males are larger than the females, the males fawn colors are slightly darker, and the females quack while the males rasp).

 

[JosaylnBrown]

What's the breed? I was thinking five weeks is pretty young to be getting a sex feather. My runner ducks are 11 weeks old, and still don't have their sex feathers. The way I can tell them apart is by their size differences (the males are larger than the females, the males fawn colors are slightly darker, and the females quack while the males rasp).

Splotch is a blue swedish. I'm guessing on age. I've had them about 5 weeks, I don't know how long they were at the feed store. I thought it was going as well but I couldn't tell. The only thing I have to compare him(?) to is our Pekin. And they grow and mature faster, so I can't sex by size as for the sounds they make my Perkin for sure quacks, splotch makes peeping noises most of the time and makes a really weird quackish noise when picked up. From what I've read in blue Swedish this is common. The males in blue swedes are louder than most other breeds. They are both almost feathered out. I just don't know! Either way I love them I was just really hoping for a drake! But drake or not they are still my babies!

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

Splotch is a blue swedish. I'm guessing on age. I've had them about 5 weeks, I don't know how long they were at the feed store. I thought it was going as well but I couldn't tell. The only thing I have to compare him(?) to is our Pekin. And they grow and mature faster, so I can't sex by size

as for the sounds they make my Perkin for sure quacks, splotch makes peeping noises most of the time and makes a really weird quackish noise when picked up. From what I've read in blue Swedish this is common. The males in blue swedes are louder than most other breeds. They are both almost feathered out. I just don't know! Either way I love them I was just really hoping for a drake! But drake or not they are still my babies!

Yeah, I'd give it some more time. It could go either way at this point, because the quacking noise you describe when it's picked up makes me think female (this is exactly how my runner girls developed their quacks... which sounded more like honks at the time). Heehee, good to know they are loved either way though!