Welsh harlequins...Male? Female? Ugh help!

[CindyinSD]

That's funny. My Welshie drakes didn't sound like that. Maybe it's a family thing? But those sure look like little boys to me. I have seven various ducks now and none are doing anything I'd describe as quacking. Maybe I'm just not meant to have duck eggs. If these do indeed all turn out drakes, I think I'll just call it a day and keep them as decorations.

 

[ibarbidahl]

2 boys just by bill... but that video sure sound suspicious- the duckling on the floor. Is that the duckling that has stripes instead of a scallop pattern on the feathers leading to the tail? If so it could very well be a badly marked female. Watch for the green starting to come in around the bill and see if the voice stays kinda iffy. Just fyi I say badly marked but it's not a bad looking duck - just not feminine. Girls usually have black bills, and lighter/fawn heads. IF it is a girl she'll lighten up when she molts into adult fathers and then again next spring into nuptial plumage.

Keep posting updates! We've got 2 now that are confusing. :-D

 

[CindyinSD]

That's funny. My Welshie drakes didn't sound like that. Maybe it's a family thing? But those sure look like little boys to me. I have seven various ducks now and none are doing anything I'd describe as quacking. Maybe I'm just not meant to have duck eggs. If these do indeed all turn out drakes, I think I'll just call it a day and keep them as decorations.

Or I could buy sexed ducklings...

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Here is a video of them quacking https://youtu.be/83i9zT-iMow

Sounded like one was trying to quack to me.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Or I could buy sexed ducklings...

Even that has no guarantees! Lol.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

These could still turn out to be to Drakes I'm not saying they can't be...
there is a little window of time when their voice changes from their baby peep to either there quack or the rest that is fairly hard to tell it can go either way. But when I listen to the video again I am sure that was a quack at the end. a drake will typically never make a quack sound they go from a peep to a whistle type sound to a frog like sound.

 

[Trisseh]

The one you’re holding sounds like baby sounds still, the one running does sound like it quacks, but that being said, the first runner duckling I hatched started making squeaky quacks and then suddenly went nearly silent and raspy. And presented a very obvious male appendage shortly after. Haha.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Here is a video of them quacking https://youtu.be/83i9zT-iMow

drakes

 

[shawluvsbirds]

The one you’re holding sounds like baby sounds still, the one running does sound like it quacks, but that being said, the first runner duckling I hatched started making squeaky quacks and then suddenly went nearly silent and raspy. And presented a very obvious male appendage shortly after. Haha.

Haha! Yeah sometimes when their voice is changing you'll hear what you are hoping is a quack. ..I think they try to keep you fooled long enough so you get good and attached to them and won't wanna invite them to freezer camp.

drakes

Not if that one keeps up quacking like that.
You just can never tell by appearance.
I have a hen with a white neck ring you would have thought that was going to be a Drake for sure. Nope.

 

[Trisseh]

Haha! Yeah sometimes when their voice is changing you'll hear what you are hoping is a quack. ..I think they try to keep you fooled long enough so you get good and attached to them and won't wanna invite them to freezer camp.

This guy is lucky I was planning on keeping a drake this season. Haha.
You really can never be too sure though. Last year, the smallest, nicest, most feminine looking appleyard duckling I got turned out to be a big mean bruiser of a drake. Hence the need for a replacement this go ‘round. xD