welsh harlequins (unknown sex)

[Medusa M]

a while ago i got myself two day old welsh harlequin ducks ,they are now almost adults but im unsure what sex they are (as i have never had this breed before) i have provided some photos of the two ducks and any help on whether these ducks gender would be much appreciated (hopeully i have a breeding pair

)


i am ot sure but i suspect this may be a female (only due to colour and no coloured head and neck but as i have said before i really dont know)





this is the suspected male (i only think hes the male because of his coloured head and neck but hes accutaly smaller than the white one )??


this is the white one again (suspected female)



if you know the difference between male and female welsh harlequins i would love to hear from you and any photos of your welsh harlequins would help alot ...thanks

 

[mandelyn]

Looks like you should reverse your theory. Girls will have a light colored head, males with darker. The dark specks coming onto the head of the first one, a female wouldn't have. But more importantly, what do they sound like? Only the girl will outright quack.

 

[duckyfromoz]

The bill colour may also give an indication to you at this age- the males bill may be turning a more green colour - I think i can see that in the first and third photo. It may just be the lighting though.

 

[Medusa M]

The bill colour may also give an indication to you at this age- the males bill may be turning a more green colour - I think i can see that in the first and third photo. It may just be the lighting though.

oh...so dose this mean that the male is white ???i suppose that would make sence since the white duck is much bigger thank the coloured one

 

[duckyfromoz]

Size isnt always a big indicator - I breed Harlequin coloured Indian Runners- so I am just going by what I know from my own flock. The males heads will darken as they molt and get their next set of feathers. Good Harlequins are hard to find here in Australia though- over here on the eastern side I only know of one breeder who has really good birds.


Hee are a young male and female of mine a few years ago- older than yours- but still it shows how much the males can change as they grow.