What is it? ;-)

[honeynajar]

Aunt Pat bought 2 ducks for her grandson... her son said NO WAY... so I inherited them and have NO clue what they are.... Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[ducklover87]

Looks like mallards to me

 

[honeynajar]

Thanks!!!! How long before sex is evident? I'm totally clueless when it comes to ducks... have only had chickens for a year.

 

[ducklover87]

Not sure if you could sex them sooner as I don't have them but have Rouens which is sorta similar. But at about 4 to 5 weeks their feathers will start coming in and you can sorta figure who's what then. It might take a week longer but the boys will start to get green on their heads while the females will stay brown. Also Mallards can fly so you either clip a wing or build a pen that is covered. There's a good thread here with a bunch of information on how to raise ducklings. I'll go find the link. Good luck on your babies!

 

[ducklover87]

Not sure if you could sex them sooner as I don't have them but have Rouens which is sorta similar. But at about 4 to 5 weeks their feathers will start coming in and you can sorta figure who's what then. It might take a week longer but the boys will start to get green on their heads while the females will stay brown. Also Mallards can fly so you either clip a wing or build a pen that is covered. There's a good thread here with a bunch of information on how to raise ducklings. I'll go find the link. Good luck on your babies!

 

[ducklover87]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10847779. Here's the link hope this helps.

 

[kada6305]

i have 3 mallards you can voice sex them mine are 4 weeks and just starting to quack so it'll take a few more weeks for me to be able to tell but the drakes will have a raspy " WACK" while the Ducks will have a loud "QUACK"

 

[ducklover87]

Oh ya that to. Thanks Kada forgot about that. I do by colors cause they come in faster. Well with the breeds I can go by color anyway.

 

[kada6305]

Oh ya that to. Thanks Kada forgot about that. I do by colors cause they come in faster. Well with the breeds I can go by color anyway.

I dont think you can do that with mallards though, because they all feather in female colors then later on the drake will get the green head, right?
And i know i have atleast one female with the quacking...hoping i dont have more than one drake!

 

[kacky]

Yes in mallards the drake's head color comes in a lot later usually after they are completely feathered.