Sexing Runner ducks

Lazys

In the Brooder
5 Years
Apr 26, 2014
39
2
36
I have ten straight run runner ducks coming in a week. How long before I will be able to tell what sexes they are? and how can I tell. I am hoping for more girls but my luck they will be mostly boys....
 
Generally speaking most mallard derived ducks by 4-5wks you can start to hear differences, over time as you become more accustomed to the noises you may pick it up sooner.

Drakes almost sound hoarse, appear to be loosing voice whereas females are your typical full on quack that most think of when asked a ducks sound.

GL!
 
You could vent sex them while they are young. I'm still pretty new at it, but it isn't rocket science. If it is a boy, you will know for sure. If it looks like a girl, then you might have just not done it right...

This is a pretty good video:
 
I am going to bump this up, my runners are now 6 weeks and really big and feathered out. how long before they get the drake feathers? I don't hear quacks but more mumbles. I am so worried that they are all drakes....

also I am wondering if I need to have a pan of water for them all the time? I have the nipple waterers and they use them (they found a way to play with them too). I have a pan of water because I know they need to be able to scoop water too, but man do they make a mess in the chicken house. I am wondering if I can put a short pool outside since I am going to start letting them out in a week or so and then when I shut them up at night with the chickens they can just use the nipple waterers.

Sorry for so many questions, but I want to do it right.
 
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I am going to bump this up, my runners are now 6 weeks and really big and feathered out. how long before they get the drake feathers? I don't hear quacks but more mumbles. I am so worried that they are all drakes....

also I am wondering if I need to have a pan of water for them all the time? I have the nipple waterers and they use them (they found a way to play with them too). I have a pan of water because I know they need to be able to scoop water too, but man do they make a mess in the chicken house. I am wondering if I can put a short pool outside since I am going to start letting them out in a week or so and then when I shut them up at night with the chickens they can just use the nipple waterers.

Sorry for so many questions, but I want to do it right.
Give them head dunking water outside I use 1 gal buckets a pool would be good, they are way to messy to have anything other than the nipple waterers inside. I don't put any water at all inside my houses even my chicken coop my ducks will find it. lol as for sexing, pics would be good. and Welcome to BYC.
 
Since Amiga was here and posted maybe she can help you out on sexing, I have Muscovy's and by 6 weeks even with out drake feather it's pretty easy to spot drake from duck by size of legs and size of body, not sure if that holds true for other breeds. They are lovely Runners by the way, oh yes and voice, girls quack loud boys raspy. Have you actually picked them up to hear the quacks?
 
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