Think the 3rd ducking hatched is blind or a has sight problem

[Miss Lydia]

My Runner drake is taller and thinner. My 4 weeks old Runner drake is taller than his sister.

But sounds like your little one is going to be fine it has 2 body guards as friends

 

[JRies]

all will be good there part of the family.
Donna and Lydia would like to here more about size
Im still learning year ago I raised Angora rabbits and I do mean years ago.
Ducks are so new to me. And runners do not seem to follow the typical duck breeds.
Thank you for any education I get.

 

[DuckyDonna]

In my fairly limited experience I think it's hard to tell what sex they are when really young but as they grow the drakes seem to grow bigger and faster. I tried vent sexing once but it was a miserable failure. My first drake was much bigger than the girls but he was also a real jerk so I got rid of him. My next one was also bigger than his other hatch mates and the one I've got now is not quite as big as the mature ladies he services but he's not even a year old yet so I expect he will bulk up some with age. I use comparrison to hatch mates to determine because it's hard when you've got age spanning all over the place. I've got 2 yr olds, 1 yr olds, 8 month old, and almost 2 month old ducks right now. @Miss Lydia what is your opinion?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well my 2 Fawn and white I ordered from Cackle that were suppose to be females had me worried since one has always been taller and over all larger. I sighed a big relief when both started quacking. My 3 yr old drake is very slim and trim and taller than his females. Now I have two 4.5 week old Runners one is doing kind of quacks the other still peeping one is taller and Bill is slightly longer. And that’s the peeping one. Right now thinking a drake.

 

[JRies]

So happy for your happy sounds
Heard my first frog grunt today one of the oldest is female for sure. But the great news is I got to spend about 4 hours on the patio with all three. and the baby stood up played with the sliding glass door reflection and was the first to jump in the pan of water. Seems more like 3rd child syndrome than a sight issue Im so happy it was the first to catch a fly even if it did spit it out. Watching the 3 of them was kind of a wake up moment the 2 older have a bond and the youngest has to scream and panic for attention. Thank god for the cooler temperatures today so we could all play outside.
When I raised rabbits I was pretty good at sexing them at one day and being on Q, ducks are a little different though but I did try with the 2 oldest and saw no extra parts they are both on the chunky neck side with a little drop like there is room for a quack er . I would love to find out I have 3 girls but the baby is just so small and fine lined. The Dad Drakezilla (mocha 4 month a year) was very frail when I got him thought he was the girl my Duck Java was brave loved swimming enjoyed watching TV from the back of the couch he had trouble walking or socializing we spent many hours with warm bathtubs of water making him work his leg always thought he was the girl and java the boy till one day I heard a frog croak in my front room. And I was swimming mocha in the bathtub.
Fingers crossed we both have lots of girls Im not sure how Manny ducky jails we can all build since no matter what they are part of the Family
By the way Mocha never got tall till the very end but he limped the first 3 month of his life then got strong and shot up overnight so I have no experience to go by. Just allot of overthinking.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hatched 6 Runners this year and had 5 drakes out of the 6 if this last one is a drake. I am hanging up my Broodies oh my gosh thats great news about the baby!!

 

[JRies]

with so many boys will you be homing them or keeping them its been my concern with hatching my own eggs but really wanted to raise my own without the trauma of shipped ducks. Im still only positive that one is a girl

 

[Miss Lydia]

I was blessed with a member here and good friend who lives in VA that found great homes for the 4 boys. They went to new homes in 2's all I had to do was drive and meet her for exchange. The little one that will be 5 weeks tomorrow is still with me. I want to try and keep him. That will give me 2 Runner drakes and a Muscovy drake who pays the Runners and Buffs no attention what so ever. Just want to make sure 2 Runner drakes won't be too much for 9 Runners/Buff females, Time will tell.

 

[JRies]

So good to find them homes. when I first got the 2 of mine I hoped for 2 girls or 2 boys. Might sound funny but living in a suburban world 2 boys would have been best. Got one of each. Everything I read is if you do not have a female the males do well together! I guess that is why I asked. Im hopping now for 3 girls. We are all even if there are extra drakes moving to our forever land in 6-10 weeks. It would be a good first winter if I only need 2 enclosures not 3. Mocha is the perfect drake for were we are moving he watches everything but mostly over his duck. The new property is over lower latham reservoir. there are millions of migrating birds that come through from pelican to cranes you name it (its a protected area) so there are allot of Falcons Hawks and owls in the area. Along with 4 footed wildlife.
Fingers crossed I have 3 girls so they can all be in one safe home together. If not I will figure it out even if one gets the spare bedroom.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Keep us updated. Your new forever home sounds wonderful too!