The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: fairhaven on August 01, 2012, 08:12:41 pm
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Hi
I've got a feeling that almost all of my Aylesbury's are male... I could have sworn that they were 3 trio's that we bought :o They are about 4 - 6 mths old and their beaks are now all orange except one rather pinky one and they all have curly tails - Before I poke around their bottoms looking for something that I 'wouldn't know one if I saw one' :D Has anyone here got any advice on sexing aylesbury ducks?
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If the tails have curled then I would say they are definitely Drakes
What noise are they making - are they croaking or quacking?
Think they may be dinner :innocent:
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A little bit of both - They seem to be getting more quacky than they were a month ago, We had planned on eating the males anyway, but it would have been nice to have had some females left for eggs later on!
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This is the best demonstration of the difference I have found online.
http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/artquacks.htm (http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/artquacks.htm)
The curly tails are also a give away. If you do decide to keep one for future breeding keep the one with the pinky / flesh coloured bill. It is actually the colour Aylesbury's are meant to be!
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Hi,that is so spot on.I have used this quack test for sexing ducks for a couple of years and amazing as it sounds I have found it 100% accurate.
If you have any doubt pick one up the females make a right din,any that don't are male.I pick them up check for the sound and mark them with a spot of sheep marker spray or fit a leg ring at the same time.
Graham.
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:wave: Had a good look this morning.... Thanks for all the advice (The link was a great help too :thumbsup:) Suspicions correct 8 male & 1 female >:( I guess we will be eating lots of duck !