Uhhhhh - so what if Barbe and Ed are both drakes?

[Andrea PNW]

Gosh I'm so grateful to this forum - for reals. I've posted something just about everyday and y'all have helped me every single day. I don't know what I'd do without you. Hugs to all.

Okay another newbie duck question - what if Barbe and Ed are both drakes (I can't tell yet). Are they going to be fine being my pets with no hens around or by the time March comes around I'm going to hate my life? I didn't get them for meat or for eggs - I just think they are hilarious and beautiful pets. Am I going to need to think about adding at least 2 hens into the mix so they don't either kill each other or try and mount me or my 20lb dog?

Thanks a million as always.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

no hens! two drakes is perfect!!! it’s always either all boys, all girls, or 2 girls per drake

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If its just the two, they'll be fine. Personally if there are one of each, I would get more hens or only keep one of them. They aren't ones for monagomy

 

[Andrea PNW]

Woot

 

[Andrea PNW]

If its just the two, they'll be fine. Personally if there are one of each, I would get more hens or only keep one of them. They aren't ones for monagomy

When my plan was to get three I was terrified I'd get two drakes and one hen. I wanted to get them as hatchlings since they are pets but you don't know what you're gonna get at hatchlings - it was a conundrum. So me being a rookie, I got a pair of two week olds - and now I'm seeing that they were entirely too old to be snuggly with me but still too young to know they're sex.

Don't get me wrong - Barbe and Ed are rad. They follow me everywhere and just want to be close always.... they just understandably don't want to be held/touched.

What do y'all think? Boys or girls? The person I got them from thinks I got a pair of hens cuz their heads aren't green enough. But at 7wks still a little too young to tell?

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

When my plan was to get three I was terrified I'd get two drakes and one hen. I wanted to get them as hatchlings since they are pets but you don't know what you're gonna get at hatchlings - it was a conundrum. So me being a rookie, I got a pair of two week olds - and now I'm seeing that they were entirely too old to be snuggly with me but still too young to know they're sex.

Don't get me wrong - Barbe and Ed are rad. They follow me everywhere and just want to be close always.... they just understandably don't want to be held/touched.

What do y'all think? Boys or girls? The person I got them from thinks I got a pair of hens cuz their heads aren't green enough. But at 7wks still a little too young to tell?

they are old enough to be voice sexed, if you post videos i can help

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They're Cayugas, Correct? Or mallards?

 

[CaramelKittey]

I would actually guess hens, but it’s a little hard to tell from the picture.
Their feathers aren’t curled, but I’m not exactly sure what age they need to be if they are drakes for their feathers to curl.
Only females quack. Males make a raspier noise. What sound(s) do they make.
They are beautiful by the way!

 

[Andrea PNW]

They're Cayugas, Correct? Or mallards?

Cayugas! They are about 7wks. Two days ago the family I got them from and the dad said he thought it was two hens based on the pic. I sent this pic back to them today and now he thinks to drakes because of the green. I almost want to put together a betting pool cuz - it's my first time. I have zero idea.

 

[Andrea PNW]

I would actually guess hens, but it’s a little hard to tell from the picture.
Their feathers aren’t curled, but I’m not exactly sure what age they need to be if they are drakes for their feathers to curl.
Only females quack. Males make a raspier noise. What sound(s) do they make.
They are beautiful by the way!

And yeah aren't they beauts! Honestly sometimes they sound like ducks and quack, most of the time the peep to each other, one of them whistles at me when they know I'm around but they can't see me. I truly don't know.