Sexing ducks????

Now my runners are I think six weeks old and are quacking, no idea what they are supposed to sound like so what about this theory with the curly drake tail feathers???
Oh Ive named them Freckles, Coco,Billy and Peaches!  

this is Billy...



and Peaches......



all together with mum of to her favourite dustbath! :shock:  :shock:

Hello,
What gorgeous pics

The earliest way is to sex them by voice. Girls sound the way you think ducks should sound with a clear voice when they are quacking or chatting to each other. Drakes sound like they have a hoarse voice. Its much easier to tell when you have the contrasts to compare. I'm no expert, in my first set of ducklings who are about the same age as yours, I have 1 who sounds like a drake, 1 who sounds like a duckling still and 1 who has been honking more like a goose than a duck for about 2 weeks. I have decided its a she, mainly becaus I want her to be  

This might help:

http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/artquacks.htm

As to the feathers, drakes ahve the destinctive curly sex feathers. What I cant find out is when they get them. My drakelet is almost fully feathered and appears to have the tiniest hint of a curl of dubious significance. I think that they only get the full curly sex feather when they moult their juvenile plummage and acquire their nuptiual plummage in about 4 months. My drake lost his when he moulted. Not sure about this and happy to be corrected by someone who knows more.

Good luck

Kate

Well I listened to the link.. went out and listened to the ducklings, I think at least 2 might be girls due to a definate honking sound, Billy sounds a bit more whispery. I think the neighbours think I am barking tho!!!  

Aaaah they is luverly Foxy Make the most of em tho they get so big so quickly. I have another hen sitting on 2 duck eggies