Vent sexing a large duck?

[headred]

My ducks are about 12 weeks old now and I still can't really tell gender (and I'm so curious!!). I have some help today and am thinking about vent sexing them. Does anyone think it too traumatic to do this, seeing that they are about 5 to 7 pound ducks now? Not a problem to catch them, but to turn them upside down I just wonder if anyone has done this with success?

 

[MDC]

Are they mallard derivs or muscovy? There really shouldn't be any reason you can't sex them by other means at that age.

If they're mallard derivs, pick them up one by one and walk away from the flock. If they quack, a loud, audible quack, they're ducks. If they still peep or have a raspy hoarse quack, they're drakes.

If they're Muscovy, the drakes will be considerably larger than ducks.

 

[Wifezilla]

Patience headred!

 

[headred]

I know, I know! Actually, this morning, they are all turning into drakes. That leaves me one hen and 6 drakes! I think I'll be doing some selling and some trading!

 

[Wifezilla]

LOL...you poor thing. That's why I paid so much for my 3 welsh harlequin girls. I wanted to make DARN SURE I had females