The Duck Thread

[Miss Lydia]

http://poultrykeeper.com/health-suppliments/apple-cider-vinegar

 

[LadyIsadora]

I honestly can't remember. Varying opinions on when it shows up, if I remember right. I remembered that the voice was the earliest way, besides vent sexing. Then I found that freckle thing.

I think there are hormones in the feed these days making them develop drake feathers faster.
Naw, just kiddin' but I will say I have 12 ducklings that are 8 weeks old today. Two or three are sporting DEFINATE curly drake feathers, and have been for a week or two. The rasp instead of quack so = double whammy - they are boys. I know I have more males than that, but only two have these early drake feathers.
To further confuse the issue this is a mixed flock. I am almost positive 2 of the Rouens are male, only one had the drake feather, I am positive 2 of the goldens are male and only one has the drake feather. They came mail order so likely do not have the same parents from the farm. So I am lead to believe that this is genetics rather than nutrition or breed. go figure.

 

[suzy4027]

I feel for you @WVduckchick! I obsessed over Tater being a male or female. I was sure I could wish him into a girl, alas, not to be. Since they're WH, I even had bill colors I could sex them by! But oops, that's only the first 2-5 days and only 90% of them have the sex linked bill coloring.

So now I sit and watch my neighbors drake WEARING OUT the rest of their flock and try to figure out how I'm going to either separate mine or talk the DH into more females. Not sure which will be harder to do. Lol. Of course, I vote for more females!

Tater and Tot are 10 weeks on Saturday!!!! Holy cow, I can't believe that. They're not quite fully feathered, not sure that's normal, but they're growing on along so not really worried. For once! Lol. They're DYING to figuring the flying thing out. Tot was flapping her wings, running down the hill right at me, when suddenly, that famous Kansas wind gave her a bit of a push. We both got wide eyed. I know that because I was sitting on an 18in wooden box and her wide eyes were looking right into my wide eyes! Lol. We both bailed in diff directions (thank you Lord) and looked at each other like, let's not try that again.....

.

Hi @Miss Lydia! Thought I'd tell you what the dd told me the other day.... Her 4th grade class is doing a Cinderella story based on something in their life. She's doing "A Rouen Cinderella Story." Thought that was pretty cute, then thought, we don't have rouens....! Why not a WH Cinderella?! Tot's pretty. Why not her?

Ha ha. I'll take whatever duck she shows interest in! My neighbor's rouens are sweethearts, so fine by me!
Here's pics from yesterday:

COMIN AT YA!!! Lol

I didn't get THAT mad at her for flying at me.... She's just preening. Heh heh

I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN.... (So far, he can't. Lol) sure hope I'm not on HIS big ole flight path when HE catches air! Yikes! He's not the sharpest tack in the box.

 

[Debs Flock]

@suzy4027 - thanks for sharing! Those are some great pics!! I'm really worried about gender and I have a long way to go yet. I have 2 Pekins & @ Rouens that will be 4 weeks old tomorrow. I'll be in the same boat...will def want to add to the flock, not reduce. Can't imagine giving any of them up. The man of the house will not be happy about getting more. We shall see...

 

[Y-Knot]

Just be patient. My younger ducklings chased my two older girls all over the pen at first. It's been a few weeks, and while they're not "buddies", they're part of the flock and they all hang out together. The younger girls still boss them around a bit, but they don't seem to mind living together anymore.

Thanks. Sounds like we have the same problem. They do hang together a bit when they get fed. I have two feeding bowls but when I fill the bowl usually used by the younger group, Winchester (the older KC) rushes over and stands in their bowl while they eat! She's always done that in her own feeder but it is rather funny to watch her standing in their bowl while everyone else eats. She is such a kick!
Thanks again for your advice. I will keep up the patience.

 

[WVduckchick]

@LadyIsadora - mine (all 4 black Swedish) turned 8 weeks this past weekend (technically 2 on Saturday, 1 Sunday and 1 yesterday... I hatched them lol) So we are in the same boat for sure. I have been watching for drake feathers, but haven't noticed it on any of them yet. And mine have seemed fully feathered for a good week or maybe two weeks. I'd say that's due to the difference in our climates. One the 2 girls (the 2 that I know are girls!) have a few "baby" feathers that still seem to stick out of their neck feathers. We will have to continue to compare notes...

@suzy4027 - Wow! Those are some real beauties! I absolutely love the stretched-wing pictures. I try to get shots like that, just never seem to get that lucky..

And I'm still laughing at your flying story... that's funny!

@Debs Flock funny, my hubby is the one wanting more animals... I'm the one saying "I do all the work" lol... but he does better with my chickens. They are more "his"... the ducks are MINE. LOL

 

[Miss Lydia]

I feel for you @WVduckchick ! I obsessed over Tater being a male or female. I was sure I could wish him into a girl, alas, not to be. Since they're WH, I even had bill colors I could sex them by! But oops, that's only the first 2-5 days and only 90% of them have the sex linked bill coloring.

So now I sit and watch my neighbors drake WEARING OUT the rest of their flock and try to figure out how I'm going to either separate mine or talk the DH into more females. Not sure which will be harder to do. Lol. Of course, I vote for more females!

Tater and Tot are 10 weeks on Saturday!!!! Holy cow, I can't believe that. They're not quite fully feathered, not sure that's normal, but they're growing on along so not really worried. For once! Lol. They're DYING to figuring the flying thing out. Tot was flapping her wings, running down the hill right at me, when suddenly, that famous Kansas wind gave her a bit of a push. We both got wide eyed. I know that because I was sitting on an 18in wooden box and her wide eyes were looking right into my wide eyes! Lol. We both bailed in diff directions (thank you Lord) and looked at each other like, let's not try that again.....

.

Hi @Miss Lydia ! Thought I'd tell you what the dd told me the other day.... Her 4th grade class is doing a Cinderella story based on something in their life. She's doing "A Rouen Cinderella Story." Thought that was pretty cute, then thought, we don't have rouens....! Why not a WH Cinderella?! Tot's pretty. Why not her?

Ha ha. I'll take whatever duck she shows interest in! My neighbor's rouens are sweethearts, so fine by me!
Here's pics from yesterday:




COMIN AT YA!!! Lol

I didn't get THAT mad at her for flying at me.... She's just preening. Heh heh



I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN.... (So far, he can't. Lol) sure hope I'm not on HIS big ole flight path when HE catches air! Yikes! He's not the sharpest tack in the box.

Such gorgeous ducks, I Ike their little hang out area safety from hawks. Neat about Rouen Cinderella Story that is really sweet so they are actually writing the story?that would be fun to read.

 

[Debs Flock]

@LadyIsadora - mine (all 4 black Swedish) turned 8 weeks this past weekend (technically 2 on Saturday, 1 Sunday and 1 yesterday... I hatched them lol) So we are in the same boat for sure. I have been watching for drake feathers, but haven't noticed it on any of them yet. And mine have seemed fully feathered for a good week or maybe two weeks. I'd say that's due to the difference in our climates. One the 2 girls (the 2 that I know are girls!) have a few "baby" feathers that still seem to stick out of their neck feathers. We will have to continue to compare notes...

@suzy4027 - Wow! Those are some real beauties! I absolutely love the stretched-wing pictures. I try to get shots like that, just never seem to get that lucky..

And I'm still laughing at your flying story... that's funny!

@Debs Flock funny, my hubby is the one wanting more animals... I'm the one saying "I do all the work" lol... but he does better with my chickens. They are more "his"... the ducks are MINE. LOL

@WVduckchick LOL...if I'm lucky, I have either all females, 1 male & 3 females or all males so I won't have to add any. I sure couldn't get rid of any. Look at those babies!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@WVduckchick LOL...if I'm lucky, I have either all females, 1 male & 3 females or all males so I won't have to add any. I sure couldn't get rid of any. Look at those babies!

They sure are adorable.

 

[Bnemi]

Thanks for posting,and amazing ducks,too bad all of your drakes died as I am getting ducks and drakes in 1 week!Thank you for posting and please get the word out about this thread!

Thank You!!!!!!

I agree, great thread.