Yet another duckling ID thread :)

[cymbaline]

I bought two (hopefully female - I tried to sex them) ducks from TSC. They were a very mixed shipment and I tried to choose runners. At nearly two weeks old, I really think one is a fawn and white runner. The other, however, has me a little stumped. It's tough to find good example pics of different ducklings online....most breed pics are of full grown ducks. I only have experience with Mallards up to now. I know Pekins are noticeable larger than most other ducklings, and I specifically wanted runners because they aren't much bigger than mallards (4-4.5 lbs vs. 2.5-3.5 lbs, with Pekins being more like 8-9lbs). Her bill is turning a bluish-purple color as she gets older - initially they were both pink. The top of her head is just a little darker, and sometimes it almost looks like she has a stripe on her face. I'm pretty sure TSC got them from Murray McMurray and they only have certain breeds. She looks like she could be a buff duckling, but since the females get to be 7 lbs and runners only 4, wouldn't she be a lot larger by now? Is there any other possibility that I'm missing?


Probable runner on the right, mystery duck on the left.



Probable runner on the left, mystery duck on the right.


Obligatory wet baby duck wings probable runner on the left, mystery duck on the right.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I bought two (hopefully female - I tried to sex them) ducks from TSC. They were a very mixed shipment and I tried to choose runners. At nearly two weeks old, I really think one is a fawn and white runner. The other, however, has me a little stumped. It's tough to find good example pics of different ducklings online....most breed pics are of full grown ducks. I only have experience with Mallards up to now. I know Pekins are noticeable larger than most other ducklings, and I specifically wanted runners because they aren't much bigger than mallards (4-4.5 lbs vs. 2.5-3.5 lbs, with Pekins being more like 8-9lbs). Her bill is turning a bluish-purple color as she gets older - initially they were both pink. The top of her head is just a little darker, and sometimes it almost looks like she has a stripe on her face. I'm pretty sure TSC got them from Murray McMurray and they only have certain breeds. She looks like she could be a buff duckling, but since the females get to be 7 lbs and runners only 4, wouldn't she be a lot larger by now? Is there any other possibility that I'm missing?


Probable runner on the right, mystery duck on the left.



Probable runner on the left, mystery duck on the right.


Obligatory wet baby duck wings probable runner on the left, mystery duck on the right.

They stand upright like Runners, sure are cute too.

 

[cymbaline]

So you think maybe she's just a more "lazy" runner? lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

So you think maybe she's just a more "lazy" runner? lol

Could be and just not your stand straight show Runner, but to stand that erect at such a young age is pretty good I think. Time will tell.

 

[DucksnDaffodils]

The right duckling does look very much like a buff duckling with her purple beak. I have heard that Buffs only get up to 5 pounds max, and my hen was really seemed quite small. But then again it does stand really tall. Whatever they are they are absolutely adorable!!

 

[cymbaline]

The right duckling does look very much like a buff duckling with her purple beak.  I have heard that Buffs only get up to 5 pounds max, and my hen was really seemed quite small.  But then again it does stand really tall.  Whatever they are they are absolutely adorable!! 

I don't know much about buffs; I just looked on Murray McMurray's website to see what breeds they had and she does resemble a buff duckling...their page on buffs says 7 lbs. I can live with 5 though, and would seem to jive more with her size compared to the runner. Maybe that is just an error on their page. Buffs sure are pretty. thank you both for the compliments on my babies.....I think they're pretty adorable too but then again what baby ducks aren't?

 

[cymbaline]

Well, it's been a few days. Still quite sure that one is a runner - not sure if she'll be all white or fawn and white though. I swear I see darker markings around her face but maybe I'm imagining it. She is staying very slim and is almost always upright. The other one is getting much more plump and only occasionally stands up and even when she does, it's not as upright as the other. Lots of her yellow baby fluff is falling out and being replaced by a very soft cotton-y white fluff. I can feel some big duck feather stubs here and there though.


The runner's bill is still very pink, and the "mystery" duck's bill is still more of a purple. Her head is kind of dusky and I swear sometimes it looks like she has an eye stripe and dot, like a mallard.


Still waiting to hear some "honks" soon...I've heard a few noises that might be girly noises but it also might just be me getting my hopes up, lol. I am dying to see what these two look like when they grow up. I've only ever had mallards...they're easy to identify and their looks are pretty predictable, lol

 

[DucksnDaffodils]

Well, it's been a few days. Still quite sure that one is a runner - not sure if she'll be all white or fawn and white though. I swear I see darker markings around her face but maybe I'm imagining it. She is staying very slim and is almost always upright. The other one is getting much more plump and only occasionally stands up and even when she does, it's not as upright as the other. Lots of her yellow baby fluff is falling out and being replaced by a very soft cotton-y white fluff. I can feel some big duck feather stubs here and there though.


The runner's bill is still very pink, and the "mystery" duck's bill is still more of a purple. Her head is kind of dusky and I swear sometimes it looks like she has an eye stripe and dot, like a mallard.


Still waiting to hear some "honks" soon...I've heard a few noises that might be girly noises but it also might just be me getting my hopes up, lol. I am dying to see what these two look like when they grow up. I've only ever had mallards...they're easy to identify and their looks are pretty predictable, lol

They are getting big!! I definitely think no questions asked, that your "mystery" duck is a buff orpington duck. She just looks just like mine did. The only other possibility is that she is a Buff colored Runner duck. But I don't even know it there is such a thing!

 

[cymbaline]

Just over 3 weeks old. Getting some big-duck feathers.

 

[cymbaline]