[CameronS]

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

[OhLaLa]

I can sex ducks and chicks by looking at them, it's something that has come with the years....

 

[jaykay]

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  the duck whisperer

[CameronS]

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

[Pony-n-trap]

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!! :-)

[doganjo]

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.

[jaykay]

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  
sexing ducks

[Roxy]

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

[Sylvia]

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 )

[Roxy]

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!!

[jaykay]

Oh, duckings are messy   Fortunately for them, they are also extremely cute

[Dizzycow]

I'm busy incubating white Indian Runner eggs, have four hatched so far, would love to know what I've got!

[darkbrowneggs]

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   

[Roxy]

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.

[Dizzycow]

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!