Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

apelovmyi · « **on:** August 22, 2011, 09:58 »

Hi, I'm also new and found the site over the weekend, whilst looking for info on ducks. I've got an allotments and some hens in our garden. I was looking for some help please as we bought three ducks (2 girls and 1 boy) this weekend but now worried that they are all drakes! They are Welsh Harlequins and all look exactly the same, with light brown heads. I've searched the internet for photos but they only show fully adult ducks. Can anyone help please with descriptions or photos, as my wife doesn't want to get too attached in case they have to go back! Cheers, Mike

joyfull · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:18 »

hello Mike, I have just popped this over into the Hen House as you may find more help in here

Welcome to the forum by the way and if you would care to go back to the welcome section again and post a little bit about yourself you would be made more than welcome I'm sure

apelovmyi · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:40 »

Hi, thanks. Still finding my 'wellies' on the forums as not been a member of one before! Mike

orchardlady · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2011, 13:01 »

If you were sold these ducks as sexed then it might be worth a quick phone call to the breeder to ask how they worked out the sex of the birds and to gain reassurance that if it turns out that you do have all drakes or just two, they will give you a full refund and accept returns.

Ducks are notoriously hard to sex but one way is to listed to their quack. Boys tend to quack and girls to honk!

The only other way is to wait for the adult plumage to come through and the tell tale curly tail feather in drakes. Although it has been known for disreputable sellers to remove this feather and sell the drakes as girls....naughty.....

Orchardlady

apelovmyi · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2011, 14:03 »

Hi and thanks. I've attached a photo of them in their little holding cage taken on Saturday, whilst I was setting up their house and run. Have checked and the breeder will swap or refund so no problems there. He went by the curly tail feather on one of them but as the plummage is exactly the same on all three, ie dark heads we're sure they're boys. They're also pretty quiet. with just a gentle quacking to each other. They're lovely ducks, settled in well and friendly - but we won't get eggs from boys! Not named them yet as if they go back it will be sad

Helenaj · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2011, 14:19 »

Have you tried the Domestic Waterfowl Trust - http://www.domestic-waterfowl.co.uk/wharl.htm They have some info on the breed. You could also contact them with some photos- I'm sure they would have someone experienced enough to sex from the photos you have.

joyfull · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2011, 14:31 »

they are very pretty whatever sex they turn out to be

apelovmyi · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2011, 20:48 »

Hello again. Just thought, I didn't mention that they are 16/17 weeks old.

binghamd · « **Reply #8 on:** September 06, 2011, 18:41 »

From my reading the males have darker bills when young but this tends to go as they get older.

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Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

apelovmyi

Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

joyfull

Re: Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

apelovmyi

Re: Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

orchardlady

Re: Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

apelovmyi

Re: Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

Helenaj

Re: Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

joyfull

Re: Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

apelovmyi

Re: Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

binghamd

Re: Hello and help with sexing Harlequin ducks

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