Silver or Gold phase Welsh Harlequins?

[aineheartsyou]

Harley and Quinn have the dark heads and dark eyes on their feathers, Ducky has the light colored head and light brown eyes on her feathers.

here they are a couple days old

and here they are today, a month old

Ducky's light brown eyes on her feathers

Quinn's dark brown eyes on her feathers

side view of Ducky

side view of Harley

What are your thoughts?

 

[Big Dreamer]

Ducky looks to be a golden phase, and the other two seem to be silver..im not positive though...but i recently posted a topic "My Ducks! " and in there i have 2 golden phase hens and 2 silver phase drakes, one is pied though, and Harley looks pied almost too, cool!!

 

[aineheartsyou]

thanks for the reply! I cant wait to see how they turn out

 

[DurhamDuck]

Oh their all so cute! I love your photos!

 

[azhenhouse]

Is Harley a drake?

 

[aineheartsyou]

Quote:
yup

 

[ducklover700]

that's funny- I saw your picture of Harley and immediately thought "now, there's a drake!" and yet, I haven't figured out my own birds yet.

 

[DB_Tex]

I believe "silver and gold" is told in early life by wing speculum feathers, not overall color. "Silver Phase" harlies have blue or teal stripes on their wings. While a "gold phase" harlequin has bronze or greenish stripes on the wings-- so you won't be able to tell for sure until those early feathers grow in I think.
This is just how I remember it in Storey's guide to ducks.

A welshy's adult coloration isn't "true" until 2 years of age. They may lighten and darken for some time in between.

 

[119chixanducks]

thanks for the reply! I cant wait to see how they turn out

Are your golden and silver from the same hatch? What were the parents?