So confused about the sex of my ducks

[TheDrake]

My ducks are now 7 weeks old and I still don't know what sex they are. They are mallards. I have 4. At first I thought I had 1 male and 3 hens because one of their bills was yellowish while the others were dark. But then one of the other ones is forming a white ring around its neck. And I was told that males have a white ring around their necks. And that's the only one with one and that's not the one with the yellow bill. Also, one of the ducks is quacking while all the rest are still peeing. I don't know which one is quacking because they are always all together. So I know I have at least one female but I don't know which one. I hope 3 of them aren't drakes but I have no idea. Someone, please help!

 

[TheDrake]

Sorry, still peeping not peeing lol. I will post pics of them soon, maybe that will help someone identify their sex. But truthfully they all look the same except for the one with the yellowish bill and the one with the white ring around its neck.

 

[needlessjunk]

If all you are hearing is peeping there is a good chance they are male. To get an accurate voice check separate them one at a time.

 

[TheDrake]

Ahhhhh ok! So... One female's voice wouldn't change before another? It's been probably 4 days since one of them has been quacking.

 

[needlessjunk]

Ahhhhh ok! So... One female's voice wouldn't change before another? It's been probably 4 days since one of them has been quacking.

All my girls started between 3-6 weeks. So some can start earlier than others and every once in a while you will get a late quacker. I would still give it time but if only one started and they are indeed 7 weeks I would start to get worried.

 

[TheDrake]

So I went out and held each one of them individually... Good news... 3 are quacking!!! Only one still only peeps. And that's the one with the white ring around its neck, guess that's my drake! I'm relieved!

If anyone could post a video of their mallards I would love to hear the male versus the female. Thanks!

 

[needlessjunk]

So I went out and held each one of them individually... Good news... 3 are quacking!!! Only one still only peeps. And that's the one with the white ring around its neck, guess that's my drake! I'm relieved!

If anyone could post a video of their mallards I would love to hear the male versus the female. Thanks!

Well that solves that, lol. Here is a good link with the sounds of males and females. All breeds sound the same except Muscovy. http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/artquacks.htm

 

[TheDrake]

Thank you! Yup I definitely have 3 females :yiipchick And probably one male. Gosh the males kind of sound like frogs lol.

 

[needlessjunk]

Thank you! Yup I definitely have 3 females :yiipchick And probably one male. Gosh the males kind of sound like frogs lol.

Yay! Yeah... Boys are funny sounding but it's nice that they can't get loud!

 

[jducour]

You are so lucky! That is a great ratio for 4 straight run eggs When I started with 5 straight run ducklings this spring, I ended up with 5 drakes...