I have a small flock of ducks, a dozen, and I am trying to sex them. None have the curled drake feather yet, and the rouen females are easy to pick out...however, I also have a mixed bag of ducks...(I think) some mixed cayugas, swedish blues, mixed halequins, anconas, and who knows what else.....Anyway....I want to start sorting them out....is there a way...I have heard quacking is a key but not sure if this is true...

Any help would be appreciated.

-- Storybook Farm (mumaw@socket.net), June 27, 2001

Answers

From my experience with ducks, no matter what breed, I have always found it easy to listen to their quacking to know which is which. The females are much louder than the males with a distict quack while the males have a quiet raspy quack. Just listen to your ducks and you should be able to tell in no time. Hope that helps!

-- c.d. (his4ever@mac.com), June 27, 2001.

Using the quack is a very easy way to tell the difference. If you can identify them all by sight and want to wait until they quack that will work fine. If you catch them you can also support them with one hand under them and sort of gently bounce them keeing them supported (like bouncing a baby) and that will make them quack and you can then identify them individually.

-- Trisha-MN (tank@Linkup.net), June 27, 2001.

All the above are correct. I will have a stamp made with the words" The Poultry Connection, General Waterfowl Forum" on it so people won't get sick of me posting that! :-) However you will find experts in those breeds on that board that can help you a lot. I find bill color a good guide, but as you know this depends on the breed in question. And that is no help at all with Black Ducks! I have several breeds of bantam ducks, some runners and dutch hookbills. All the bantam girls were quacking at 3 weeks old, the runners are just now starting at 6 weeks, and I haven't heard a peep(pardon the pun)out of the hookbills or any of the drakes. Your flock sounds beautiful and I bet you are enjoying them a lot. :-)

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), June 27, 2001.

One more note(depending on the age of your Rouens), the male Rouens will look like females on first feathering, and again at molt. The drake tale feather thing is like just a couple of feathers on top that curl up. I agree that the quacking is the surest sign.

-- mary, in colorado (marylgarcia@aol.com), June 27, 2001.

Ducks are easy at any age. With a little practise, you can learn how to hold them upside down and spread the vent open. If it's a male, the penis will pop up.

-- Cathy<>< (trinityhealth@nativestar.net), June 27, 2001.