What to look for when buying adult ducks?

[samuelsonfarm]

Hello Fellow Duck Fanatics-

I am trying to find some female adult ducks to add to our flock (5 female, 5 drakes). I just saw someone post some ducks on craigslist, but when I asked what gender they were, he said he didn't know how to tell the difference!!! I don't know how you keep ducks and not tell the difference...
ANYWAYS- I'm hoping to go and take a look at them tomorrow afternoon, but I don't have high hopes at this point. What should I look for when choosing healthy adult birds? Any big red flags? I don't want to bring home sick birds to my flock, so I need to know what kinds of things would stand out on a first glance type basis. I'm guessing see if their butts are clean, and eyes are clear. Anything else I should look for or ask about?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I always look at feet too. Feather condition, Altho that could be affected by molt.

 

[Amiga]

Feather condition, legs, posture, those are things I would think of.

Someone I know who takes in rescues has a quarantine area and sends a fecal sample to a lab to check for parasites before releasing them with the rest of the flock. I think she waits two weeks in any case.

Introductions need to be closely supervised and not rushed. Sometimes they act like long lost friends, sometimes they start right in with the poking each other and chasing.