What are they??

[learycow]

Yes, they are both muscovy ducklings Not goslings, wrong bill shape and size.
Muscovy ducks have a very distinct look to them. The shape of their body is different as is their bill. But if you don't have any other ducks to compare them to, then it can be hard to pick them put as ducklings. (body color and markings help in identity as well).
If you handle them as lot while they are still young, they make excellent pet ducks. Mine will follow me around outside and in my garage if the doors are open. They will eat treats out of my hand and are very personable

 

[missnu01]

Not everyone chooses a breed for looks, some choose some for more practical reasons.

What's the difference between a Pekin and a Muscovy in terms of being raised for meat/eggs? They seem to have similar feed conversions, similar growth rates, similar egg production... If it's all so similar, I'd rather have a more attractive breed than a less attractive one. Now again, it's my personal opinion but still, there are other birds out there with very similar traits to Muscovies without actually being Muscovies.

Well Pekins are super loud while Muscovies are super quiet. I also think they are ugly with their gnarly faces. I have Pekin and mallard ducks but still want some Muscovies. They also like to go broody from what I hear

 

[missnu01]

Thanks for all of the input - if you are right and they are muscovies I will be one happy camper (I always thought that if I ever got ducks I wanted muscovies)- does the color of the duckling give away what the color of the adult will be and how long does it take for them to start feathering out? Any suggestions would be appreciated because these are our first ducks!

You should start to see adult feathers around 3 or 4 weeks.

 

[AusChook]

Both of my Muscovy ducks were pure yellow at 2 days old when we got them. One is completely white now and one is black and white. I guess with these ducklings they will be a mixture of colour. Very cute and makes me want more ducklings! Mine are friendly and eat out of our hands, it is a very strange feeling!

 

[learycow]

They will get their juvenile feathers to start. They usually start to come in around 4 weeks.
The color of their down will determine the color of their feathers though some colors look similar as babies.
One their juvenile feathers (the first set) come in, you will know what color they will be for sure. They will molt into their adult feathers around 4 months of age. The coloring may change a little, they usually darken and may get some other coloring that didn't show up with the baby feathers.

 

[learycow]

The duckling on the left is either a black and white pied, or possibly a blue pied (the bule coloring can be easy to confuse when they are this little, plus it's always hard to get the exact coloring right with a picture). The one on the right is most likely a chocolate pied, but could turn out to be a blue fawn.

Looking for some help - don't know if these are ducklings or goslings - our daughter wanted to add them to the farm so we purchased them, but the man we got them from doesn't know what they are either. Right now they have been adopted by our momma hen even though they are over twice the sized of the chicks - they haven't gotten any feathers yet and they love grass and clover!! We would like to know what they are - ducks? geese? breed? and if the sex can be determined by color? Thanks!

 

[Going Quackers]

I'd go with a black pied that is what mine have all turned out to be that look like that as wee ones, the guy in my avatar is yellow BUT had a touch of colour on the tail his feathers are coming in he's a blue!

 

[learycow]

I'd go with a black pied that is what mine have all turned out to be that look like that as wee ones, the guy in my avatar is yellow BUT had a touch of colour on the tail his feathers are coming in he's a blue!

From the color of his/her bill, I would say you have a lavender

 

[Going Quackers]

From the color of his/her bill, I would say you have a lavender

You think so? I find it hard to tell lavender and blue mind you I think his mum is what they call lavender I have a blue duck and she's different.

That would be cool, but sad as its a drake lol her only surviving baby last year was a black pied just like the dad. Same drake used this year too.. Pretty sure one is a black pied again, then this blue or lavender and then me lost lol

 

[BearSpringsFarm]

Wow - thanks for all of the input - I am looking forward to some beautiful muscovies. Here is a few more questions I have - I have heard that ducklings can drown if they try to swim too soon - when can they play in the pond, or is that a myth? When will they no longer need the hen as a foster mom? Also the lighter colored one is getting a lot bigger in body size with thicker legs and bigger feet than the darker one - could this be because one is a drake and the other a hen?