sexing ducks

[larrybyrd]

My local farm supply store has assorted straight run ducks for sale. I'm interested in getting a few and want to know any hints on determining hens from drakes and one type from another. I dont really want any pekin ducks and would prefer hens.

 

[1lpoock]

The only way to sex ducklings is to vent sex. It's dangerous to a duckling if you don't know how to do it. If you want to know how just see the duck sticky topics at the top of the duck forum.

 

[larrybyrd]

I was hoping there was a way to determine by feather or beak color

 

[CityChicker]

Do you know what varieties they are going to have? With most ducks, there is no way to sex day olds other than by vent sexing. There are a couple that can be sexed by bill color fairly accurately, Welsh Harlequins and to some extent Snowy Mallards. There are also some sex-linked matings in ducks, including some hybrids bred for egg-laying. The female offspring are shades of brown. You would have to know whether or not the breeder did sex-linked matings though, something probably hard to find out from a feed store.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
nope not at that age, one somewhat way to tell is look for the louder duckling, hens are 10 times louder than males, but a simple vent sexing would be a possitive id