Sexing Silver Appleyards

[Chickhick]

Two baby ducklings hatched for me yesterday, and I am hoping for a male and a female. They are Silver Appleyards, and their markings are very different. One has a distinct dark patch on the top of the head (along with "eyeliner,") and the other has a pale hazy mark on its head with no "eyeliner." Does this indicate sex of the babies?

Thanks!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

nope they are not sexlinked or auto sexing by markings are hatch

 

[Country Thyme]

Sorry, it actually sounds like it means you only have one Appleyard to begin with. Yellow down with the hazy dark line sounds about right for Appleyard pattern down, but the traditional down with the "eyeliner" sounds like it is probably mallard/wild coloured, the regular colour of a rouen.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

not true SA can also hatch in dark phase (even white but they are culls or pets only)

 

[Country Thyme]

While it is true that you can have appleyards hatch out expressing dark phase rather than light phase, my understanding is that the down pattern typical of appleyards is controlled by the restricted mallard pattern gene, so wouldn't a dark phase appleyard still have the yellow down with Mohawk pattern?