Sexing Muscovy ducklings WITHOUT VENT METHOD

[purplesquirrel]

This is my first time with Muscovy ducks. I used to have chickens but I went travelling in Canada for 4 months leaving my chickens with my housemates, who forgot to shut the coop door and inevitably, a fox got the lot. I was crushed.

BUT now I have 3 gorgeous babies, I bought them from a breeder not far away who was incredibly passionate about ducks.
I work from home so on my 'breaks' I let the ducklings on the lawn in a puppy cage, complete with mini bath, ramp and shelter.
Turns out I have 2 boys and 1 girl, I've been watching them quite intensely and now I definitely know for sure boys from girls. And seeing as vent sexing is so intrusive and potentially harmful, I thought I'd share what I'd learned

A part from facial features, I have also noticed:

* Boys have thick legs, with very thick 'knees' and wider feet
* Their bodies are longer and fatter
* They eat more, they're more confident, slightly more tame (female seems more cautious and timid)



So this is Charlie, I will eventually sell him when he's a bit older, as I can't have 2 boys and only 1 girl.

MALE: Note long, thick beak and long, oval head.






MALE: This is Ralph (I will be keeping him as I believe he is unrelated to my female)
Same face shape as Charlie...same silly grin hehe






FEMALE: And this is my little girl, Minnie.
She has a small round face with big cheeks, a slim, delicate beak that slopes downwards.




I have also drawn a comparison of the two, as my photos aren't very clear due to them all being in different lights & positions
(they squirm a lot!)





Hope this helps

 

[Quackers Mama]

Hi there! I've been trying to get Quackers' sexed for a while now. "He's" about 6 weeks old & I still can't figure it out lol. After comparing your pictures I do see what your talking about. From the look of it (I could be wrong) but it looks as if Minnie has a bigger hook on her beak. Am I seeing it right? Lol. Adorable ducklings & nice drawings by the way.

 

[purplesquirrel]

Hi there! I've been trying to get Quackers' sexed for a while now. "He's" about 6 weeks old & I still can't figure it out lol. After comparing your pictures I do see what your talking about. From the look of it (I could be wrong) but it looks as if Minnie has a bigger hook on her beak. Am I seeing it right? Lol. Adorable ducklings & nice drawings by the way.

Yeh I'm not sure. It might just be the angle I took the photo from.
But do you want to post some photos of Quackers up here and I'll have a look too? I'm dying to see now!

 

[Quackers Mama]

Lol sure here's one when he was about the age yours are now:

Here's recent ones:

 

[purplesquirrel]

Hmm tricky, I'd say it was a boy, has quite a big beak...
In that first photo he has very thin legs though...can you get any more photos of his legs?

 

[Quackers Mama]

09/05/14:

Right now:

 

[purplesquirrel]

Haha AWH look at those funny legs! Haha
Well they are definitely girl legs, very slim. Guys legs are like tree trunks....
Is this your first duck?]

 

[Quackers Mama]

To me they're thick Lol, then again I haven't seen male duck legs yet that are the same age as Quackers. Yes Quackers is my first.

 

[purplesquirrel]

I have to say, telling from the face, I think its a boy. how old is he?

 

[Quackers Mama]

oh boy! Legs of a female and head of a boy.

About 6 weeks, give or take. When we first got Quackers they said s/he was "a couple of weeks old". Then last week I was told from someone on here that they lied to me lol. That Quackers was only a couple days, at most a week old when we got him. We got him on August 2nd, so this Saturday it'll make 6 weeks that we've had him.