sex a duck: is it male or female?
www.tyrantfarms.com
how to
Learn more!
Sexing Mallard-derived domestic ducks isn’t always easy, depending on their age & breed. Here’s how to do it:
www.tyrantfarms.com
Learn more!
Sexing MATURE ducks
(6+ weeks old)...
www.tyrantfarms.com
Learn more!
Method 1: Vocalizations
www.tyrantfarms.com
Female
= Actual quack sounds
Learn more!
Method 1: Vocalizations
www.tyrantfarms.com
Male
= low, raspy "blurp-blurp-blurp" sounds
Learn more!
Method 1: Vocalizations
www.tyrantfarms.com
Remember: Real men don’t quack! (Ha)
Learn more!
Method 2: Plumage & physical features
www.tyrantfarms.com
Option 1: For breeds with dimorphic features (e.g. males have different colors than females)
Learn more!
Method 2: Plumage & physical features
www.tyrantfarms.com
When they’re in their “nuptial” plumage, males have green heads & necks, females do not.
Learn more!
Method 2: Plumage & physical features
www.tyrantfarms.com
However, when they’re in their “eclipse” plumage, the sexes look much more similar.
Learn more!
Method 2: Plumage & physical features
www.tyrantfarms.com
For certain breeds like Welsh Harlequins,
drakes
have bright orange legs and a yellow/orange bill.
Learn more!
Method 2: Plumage & physical features
www.tyrantfarms.com
Females
’ legs are more dark gray/green in color, as are their bills.
Learn more!
Method 2: Plumage & physical features
www.tyrantfarms.com
However, plumage-sexing does NOT help sex monomorphic breeds like all-white Pekin ducks.
Learn more!
Method 2: Plumage & physical features
www.tyrantfarms.com
Option 2:
For monomorphic breeds (same colors) like Pekins
Learn more!
Method 2: Plumage & physical features
www.tyrantfarms.com
“Drake feathers” – While in nuptial plumage, drakes have a few curled feathers on the top of their tail. Females don’t.
Learn more!
Sexing DUCKLINGS
www.tyrantfarms.com
There are some sex differences in physical features in SOME breeds, but this is not a reliable way to sex ducklings…
Learn more!
Sexing DUCKLINGS
www.tyrantfarms.com
The only 100% definitive way to sex ducklings of any breed is vent sexing, also called vent checking.
Learn more!
Sexing DUCKLINGS
www.tyrantfarms.com
Definition: Vent sexing is where you gently pull back on either side of a duckling’s vent (cloaca) to expose their reproductive organs.
Learn more!
Sexing DUCKLINGS
www.tyrantfarms.com
Vent sexing
WARNING #1:
You can severely injure ducklings if you’re not experienced with this method.
Learn more!
Sexing DUCKLINGS
www.tyrantfarms.com
Vent sexing
WARNING #2:
Vent sexing is best done on 1-2 day old ducklings, not older ducklings.
Learn more!
Sexing DUCKLINGS
www.tyrantfarms.com
At a minimum, watch videos of expert vent sexing before you try. Or find someone with experience, such as an avian vet.
Learn more!
Click the link below!
www.tyrantfarms.com
Want to read a bit more in-depth about how to sex ducks and ducklings?
Learn more!
www.tyrantfarms.com
And, be sure to check out all of our other duck content while you're there!
Browse Duck Content