When do mallards mature into adult plumage?

[monarc23]

Just curious if I deffinatly DO have two ducks or a drake and a duck

They both from a glance look hen, but the one has emrald green right behind its' wings to the tail...so I"M HOPING I have a pair but wanting to know if it's possible that the green on the head/neck on the drake takes longer to come in or not? They are a lil over a month old.

 

[ChickBond 007]

I couldn't tell until about 17 weeks old.
The tail curl is a definate drake sign.
The loudest ones- they're the girls.

 

[ducklover15]

The easiest way for me to tell at a young age is the sound they make. Drakes make an almost 'whisper' quack sound and females have very loud defined quacks.

 

[monarc23]

yeppers the one that i thnk is a drake doesnt quack and the one I think is a duck quacks loudly esp when she sees birds fly over

Now I just wait for the color to come in on my HOEPFULLY drake! Thanks for the 17 weeks info! Now I wait!

 

[Ducklove334]

my cresty Jumper still has the bronze feathers and wide black barring of a youngster, she should start her molt soon, hens molt alot faster than drakes.