The people that gave Billy his ducks are not sure how many are boys, and I dont know how to tell... Only one has turned up tail feathers, and he has the pretty green head...
How many boys do I have??Duck Question
Here is another one not sure if it is a boy or not
The turned up tail feathers are drake feathers, so green-head is a male. So far if they're all the same age, the others look like females. Do they quack? Anyone laying eggs? You need an expert - which I'm not.
I agree
From what I've learned about ducks so far, it looks like you have a drake and 2 ducks, if you're just talking about the 3 mallardy-looking type.
I know Zilch about ducks, but the one boy I recognize is Billy and I also know he's # 1. Have a great week. Hay
They all look like girls to me, except for the one you point out which is an obvious drake. The male should make sort of low semi-raspy noises that might sound like a very low, quiet quack of sorts, while the girls should make definite loud quacks - the classic "duck" noise.
Hi Claire: Sure miss you, isn't it interesting how it's always the girls that make the most noise??? I meant when it comes to ducks. Claire you always manage to quack me up. Hay
Moxon's back! (I won't even ask where you've been.)
And you, Haystack, are the strong silent type?
So so so very busy Porkpal. Just can't keep up with things these days. I did go to a spinning workshop and learn how to make beehive yarn. It's a special spinning technique. Here it is.
Sorry MissJ - didn't mean to hijack the duck thread! Ducks like yarn too!
The beehive yarn is fascinating! I can't even imagine how you can spin and produce such complex textures. What are your plans for it?
Miss J, did you need gender ID for naming purposes or has Billy already named his ducks?
You have to knit (or crochet) it with really big needles and fairly loose style to allow for the "beehives" to go through. I am thinking I might make a chunky neck-warmer thing - I thought it would be really warm and nice for fall.
MissJ - We call our duck "compound" by the name of "Duckatraz" (after Alcatraz). I haven't named my ducks because most of them are white (Pekin) and we can't tell the difference. I have named our primary Muscovy duck pairs though:
The drakes are Disston and Valdez.
The ducks are Gretchen and Latte.
Thanks Porkpal: I didn't think you'd noticed! What shall I say???
We call then all Quackers since we were not sure except for Broken Wing whos wing grows away from her body. It does not hamper her from having fun. They are not laying as of yet, I mix half scratch and half egg maker for them to eat, maybe I should cut back on the scratch? I think they are all over 6 months old, when do Ducks start laying?. So a Drake is a name for a boy duck, Cool I learned something.. They are not friendly as of yet, give us time.
Billy loves to watch them play in the water when it is clean, today he said their water looked like chocolate milk, I told him it was dirty and he informed me I needed to clean it... LOL
I miss Haystack, and am grateful for his input.....LOLOLOL
MissJ - they should start laying by 6 months or at least very shortly so expect eggs soon. Mine were very weird with their eggs at first and laid them all over the place. Nothing like chickens. Sometimes they even laid them in the kiddie pool water. They lay them in the barnyard, the barn, wherever. Almost like it popped out without them knowing it was coming.
Are you sure broken wing had a broken wing? She might just have angel wing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Wing
It's fairly common. I have a Muscovy with it. You can google it for more info - generally thought to be caused by high protein diets as ducklings. Sometimes genetic. This site shows a means for correcting in young birds:
http://www.carolinecrockeroriginals.co.uk/sheldon_pages/The_ducklings/angel_wing_condition.htm
I have a Muscovy with Angel wing and have tried the tape-binding correction shown in that article. (As of yesterday.) I'll let you know how it turns out. My duck seems to be about the same age as the one shown, and has only one funky wing, but I bound both as it was easier. I don't know how old they can be for it to still be corrected except it mentions that they should still be growing.
Ooh! good timing! I'll be interested to hear how it turns out. I hope it will work. I haven't tried the correction because the one I have with it was an adult when I got her (sale barn) and I don't think it would help.
QUACK! QUACK! (welcoming MissJ and Billy's ducks) QUACK! I think the male is named 'Wilbert'. Dr. Doalot methinks that beeish yarn is very prettiful!
LOl Dahlianut....
Thanks for the Info CMoxon, will it be ok if I leave her natural? it does not seem to bother her, and she can fly up with them to get in the water, I just cant seem to catch her, I have tried.
Oh yes, she'll be fine. She won't probably fly as well as the others but she'll do OK. I use a fishing net on a long pole to catch ducks or chickens who don't allow me to approach them. I bought it at Walmart. One of two things I have bought there in my entire life, but I could not find anywhere else that sold them. Works a treat though!
I'm glad to hear that there are others who share my opinion of Walmart. I do, however, need a net like yours; I have often wished for one when trying to trap a wayward fowl. I think I'll try Academy.
We don't have Academy here....not sure what it is. We had a sporting goods store but the nets there were tremendously expensive and of a fancy sort. I didn't want that for the farm. The other thing I bought from Walmart was a blow up mattress at 1 am when there was nothing else open and I had unexpected guests. It is the store of last resort!!
I got a new duckling from our Animal Rescue League yesterday. I think it might be a Swedish cross. Thoughts? It has Swedish colouring but the head is more brown.
Aww Billy thinks its cute..
Here it is watching the chickens play leapfrog. Or is that leaphen?
When I know its gender, I'll name it.
What kind of hen is that? She's got gorgeous feathers!
Thanks Loreen! She's a pure barnyard mix! I have no clue who she came from, but I suspect possibly the mom might be a silver laced wyandotte I had. That wyandotte has since passed away, but that is the one that this one looks most like. However, she also has a little bit of a crest on her head, as you can see in the picture below. It's possible her mom was my buff laced Polish, and the Dad could have been the Appenzeller Spitzhaben rooster I had. I also had a Creme Brabanter roo. Could have been either of those two with that crest. Maybe the Appenzeller with the silver laced wyandotte? Groan....I wish I knew. I'd love to replicate her!
This message was edited Oct 10, 2009 2:00 PM
Here's another barnyard mix that I wonder about. It's a roo. He's so cute though!
Those barnyard mixes are so differant looking ,just love to look at them
Claire! I use the fishing nets as well. I have three different ones that I use. I have a small one I use for the babies and very close quarters, I made it myself from a racquettball racquett. Then I have one that is about three times larger that I use inside the coop of the large girls. I also made that one myself. Then I have a very large one that I bought with a very long handle to use inside the run. I must admit though when the girls see them they all head for the hills. It's sorta funny, I don't really like using them but I'm to old and slow to chase them down. Haystack
In the first picture, you have one adult male and three young males and two hens. These look like Mallards and will not start laying until the days start getting longer in the Spring.
Moodene you were right, I had 4 boys and 2 girls. Someone was looking for a male for a female they had, and came out and took 2 of the boys,,, When they asked me how much, I said Free, just give them a good home. She had brought out a net to catch them with, and when she left she handed me the net and said it was an even trade, it was a new one and she said she would not need it again.... I am happy.
Then new shipment of rescue ducks, geese and chickens should be in next week...Long story, and Life is good..
Woo hoo! Good deal! Those nets are great! Also great that the ducks got a new home, and that you're getting a bunch of new rescues. I hope they all lay eggs for you!!