Welsh Harlequin Beak/Bill Color

[riverdaughter13]

We have two Welsh Harlequin ducks (and a very hungry Cayuga, she's a pig!) So the issue is their beak color. Based on early color, we believed them to be female. But noting most females I have seen have darker bills, I have started to worry. The friend we split an order of ducklings with have WH's with all dark beaks. Do I have males, or just odd colored girls?

 

[GarnerZoo]

How old are they?

 

[riverdaughter13]

Hatched approx. Apr 6th, from ChickensforBackyards.com. So about 7 weeks old.

 

[GarnerZoo]

Were they light when they were a day old? Because that's when you bill sex them as they go to the same color for a while and then finally go to the normal bill color (i.e dark for female light for male)

 

[riverdaughter13]

Yes, based on initial beak color, we believe them to be female. But based on what I have read, success with that method may be about 90%. So I have worried as the heads become darker, and their bills have been light.

 

[GarnerZoo]

The only way to know for sure is to vent sex them. I don't even know how that works so I'm no real help, sorry.

 

[fuzziecreatures]

They should be quacking soon! I love their first quacks