[Mary B]

Can anyone help with this one?  We have 3 Cayuga ducks, and 6 aylesbury ducklings.  The Cayugas are now about 9 weeks old and the aylesburys are 4 weeks.

How and when can I tell what sex they are?  One or two of the aylesburys are definitely quacking which I heard was a sign, but the cayugas are very quiet.

Any ideas??

[doganjo]

Females quack, drakes just squeak.  Some breeds are later in speaking than others.  I think it's a case of patiently waiting, I'm afraid.  Sometimes the male tail feathers curl at the end, so you can sometimes take an educated guess from that, but then sometimes they don't curl, soooo........................  you pays your money and you takes your chance

[MrRee]

Hold the duckling on its back with its head pointing down your wrist in your right hand and its legs up in the air pointing away from you.
Expose the vent by holding the tail up with your left hand, and pressing in and up between the duck's legs with the thumb and forefinger of your right hand. With very slow, gentle pressure, open the vent.
Observe the genitalia through the opening. Female ducklings have a cone-shaped organ that is more easily observable. Males have a smaller, longer, pointed organ inside a larger cloaca. The male's organ may not even appear for several seconds after the vent is opened.Do not attempt to put your fingers into the vent opening; this can cause serious injury to the duckling. Use only gentle pressure applied to the edge of the opening......Ree

[Mary B]

Thanks for the advice - I'm going to listen out and look at tail feathers before trying the vent option - maybe I'll threaten them with that if they don't start quacking or squeaking soon!!