The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: CameronS on June 21, 2011, 07:17:27 pm

Title: Sexing ducklings
Post by: CameronS on June 21, 2011, 07:17:27 pm: hello,
can anyone tell me how and indeed at what age Duckings can be sexed - i have three 5(ish) week olds and would like to try and assertain what i actually have so i can make rehoming arrangements.

Thanks
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: OhLaLa on June 21, 2011, 07:24:47 pm: I can sex ducks and chicks by looking at them, it's something that has come with the years....

:-\
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: jaykay on June 21, 2011, 07:32:13 pm: I have to wait until they grow their curly tails or not - when they're quite big.

So what do you look for?

Dad makes them talk into his ear when they're tiny and can tell from their voices :D the duck whisperer
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: CameronS on June 21, 2011, 07:39:44 pm: Is it true or not the females have a small "hook" like end to one of their bill parts, to move the eggs over when they are brooding?? or was i told a load of kack
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: Pony-n-trap on June 21, 2011, 08:10:40 pm: Ducks quack, drakes sort of squeak, then theres the curly feather.

Not sure about the bit on their bill but I know what you mean! Will go and have a look and listen at mine!! :-)
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: doganjo on June 21, 2011, 08:55:22 pm: Trouble is they are quite old before they get their voices - mine were about 8/10 weeks I think :-\ I've never been able to see the curly tails - my ducks have curls too.
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: jaykay on June 21, 2011, 09:23:21 pm: The curly tail feather is distinctive (well in my runners certainly) but they havent got it yet, at 3 months or so.
I'd better get them whispering to me :D
sexing ducks (http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/artquacks.htm)
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: Roxy on June 22, 2011, 12:30:27 am: I was only wondering about this today. I have hatched two ducklings (well, my broody did) for a neighbour. They are 4 weeks old now, and similar in size, but one has a black beak and the other a yellow beak. One has a slightly longer beak than the other to
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: Sylvia on June 22, 2011, 09:20:01 am: I pick mine up at about 8 weeks, if they quack they go in the crate for the poultry sale, if they squeak or whistle they go in the deep freeze. (Not live, obviously :o :o)
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: Roxy on June 22, 2011, 10:27:50 am: Thank you for that tip .......hopefully Elaine will them back before then. Cannot belived how messy they make everywhere, and there is only two of them!!
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: jaykay on June 22, 2011, 11:54:10 am: Oh, duckings are messy :o Fortunately for them, they are also extremely cute ;D
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: Dizzycow on June 22, 2011, 06:14:20 pm: I'm busy incubating white Indian Runner eggs, have four hatched so far, would love to know what I've got!
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: darkbrowneggs on June 22, 2011, 06:49:24 pm: The quack / squeak thing works for me, but I have noticed that the drakes seem to have slightly broader bills (beaks)

All the best
Sue

Messy - yes if they are penned up, but they are BRILLANT slug eaters ;D
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: Roxy on June 23, 2011, 12:36:00 am: I am doing my best not to get attached to these two ...yes, they are cute. They waddle over, and look up at me hopefully - looking for food. I have noticed that although they are the same age as the chicks, they now sit alongside the hen .....she is a big hen but they have grown a lot and are too large to go under her now.
Title: Re: Sexing ducklings
Post by: Dizzycow on June 24, 2011, 10:17:01 pm: My first two who hatched almost two weeks ago have definite differences and I'm convinced they're one boy and one girl. The peeping noise has recently changed slightly - one is raspier than the other, has a broader bill and a slightly more masculine head!