[orchardlady]

I bought 3 Aylesbury ducklings at about 4 weeks old and have loved having them with me. They have been a welcome addition and interest to hen keeping. They were only a couple of £'s each and I was allowed to take my pick of a nice little run of ducklings. Yes you've guessed it they are all boys. Hey ho never mind.

Now why I didn't think of it before I don't know...a very trusting nature I think is the probable answer.

Why would they all be boys?...Probably because they had been sexed professionally when they were little and sold on. My supplier probably knew this. On talking to another local poultry supplier he agreed. They saw me coming. Be warned folks. Don't buy chicks and ducklings unless you are really sure of either their sex and or your supplier.

[PaulineM]

Wow, I was thinking there what bad luck you had 
Gullible or what, it didn't even cross my mind that they were all boys 
Thanks for the advice, I would definitely fall for something like that! 

[EJCTM]

By 4 weeks you should be able to sex them yourself by their voices, although by 6 weeks is a bit easier. If you grab them and pick them up (so as to alarm them a bit) then the females will emit a proper "quack" noise but the boys will make a raspy hoarse noise like they have a sore throat.

Ducklings can also be vent sexed in the first few days after hatch. It is where you expose the little widger! there is a definite knack to doing it right, and not harming them. I tried to do this but didn't manage to know for certain. There is a youtube video by Metzer farms that shows you exactly how to do it. Search Metzer vent sexing if you want to find it.

Just 2 ways to try and avoid being duped (or unlucky). Nothing is failsafe though.

A third way is to buy them ready-sexed from a breeder or large supplier. I always feel a bit sad about this as I know what happens to the baby boys since everyone wants the girls. But if they get it wrong they should replace any boys you get accidentally.