Still not sure! Muscovy sex question....

[Humanbean68]

I have two older Muscovy hens and two 11-12 week olds....except I’m not entirely convinced that they are female. They are bigger than the older two, but smaller than the slightly older young drake I have. Do Muscovy hens vary in size much? These younger two are from totally different genetics.... last photo is the two young hens (?), second is my older two, and first is the young drake.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Can you get better pictures of them? The one laying down especially? Males overall will be longer in the body than females.

Female can vary in size, but I haven't had any really big or little ones personally.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

I have two older Muscovy hens and two 11-12 week olds....except I’m not entirely convinced that they are female. They are bigger than the older two, but smaller than the slightly older young drake I have. Do Muscovy hens vary in size much? These younger two are from totally different genetics.... last photo is the two young hens (?), second is my older two, and first is the young drake.

Can you get a picture of the two by the young drake??

 

[Humanbean68]

Can you get a picture of the two by the young drake??

I have been trying, but they avoid him because he and his brothers chased them quite a bit when they were smaller....

 

[Humanbean68]

Here’s one of the ones i’m wondering about, followed by the drake and last is the older hen.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm gonna guess hen. Tail is pointed.

 

[Humanbean68]

I'm gonna guess hen. Tail is pointed.

Thanks, I hope you’re right! I literally change my mind about 12 times a day.... the drake has lost his ‘peep’ and started hissing only but the other two still make soft noises and I can’t tell by that at all....

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

At 12 weeks you should be seeing a fairly significant size difference too if they are different sexes.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks, I hope you’re right! I literally change my mind about 12 times a day.... the drake has lost his ‘peep’ and started hissing only but the other two still make soft noises and I can’t tell by that at all....

I generally don't listen to their voices. I just go by size difference. The males get heavy and sit more often. They get longer of body. If they are similar at their age they are the same sex.

 

[Humanbean68]

Well, the drake is approximately three weeks older, which is part of the problem. I haven’t had any mixed groups of the same age. I had three drake ducklings, of which this is the last one, and the other two were a different batch and obviously the same sex as each other as well....