Do you have little ducklings or a flock of adult ducks, but aren’t sure which ones are male or female?
Basically, most duck breeds are easily distinguishable when they are fully grown, as female and male ducks have different plumage.
To determine the sex of ducklings is more difficult, here you can look at their behavior, size and weight. If you want to be sure, you can determine the sex of the ducklings with the help of vent sexing.
Contents
How to identify the sex of adult ducks
| Female Duck (Hen) | Male Duck (Drake) | |
| Plumage | earth colors | striking, bolt colors |
| Tail feathers | straight tail feathers | curled tail feathers (depending on breed) |
| Voice | louder, sharper voice than males | quieter than females |
| Beak | narrower and curved beak | straighter, broader and flatter beak |
Plumage
Duck hens and drakes have very different plumage in most duck breeds. Hens tend to have brownish or darker tones that allow them to camouflage well, while drakes often have more striking color variations. Depending on the duck breed, the exact coloration will vary, but once you know what a hen or drake looks like, you’ll be able to tell them apart quickly.
Tail feathers
Drakes of some duck breeds have very noticeable upward curled tail feathers, which makes identifying males much easier. One well-known duck breed that has these curls are mallards.
Comparison male and female mallard
Voice
The call of female ducks is much louder and sharper compared to males.
Beak
Although the shape of the beak varies depending on the duck breed, it can generally be said that the beaks of drakes are usually straighter, wider and flatter than those of females.
Comparison male and female Indian runner ducks
How to sex ducklings
| Female Duck (Hen) | Male Duck (Drake) | |
| Behavior | more curious and active than male ducklings | calmer, less urge to move than female ducklings |
| Ducklings size and weight | Lighter and smaller than males | Larger than female ducklings |
Vent sexing
Vent sexing can be used to determine the sex of young ducklings that have not yet developed any other sexual characteristics. However, vent sexing is quite difficult and there is a risk of injuring the ducklings if you aren’t careful enough, so it is better to leave this technique to experts.
Behavior
If you watch your ducklings carefully, you can easily see differences in their behaviors. As a rule of thumb, female ducklings are more curious and active than male ducklings. However, this alone is rarely enough to determine their sex with certainty.
Size and weight
Another indication the sex is the size and weight of the ducklings. Male ducklings are usually both larger and heavier than females and have a larger head, as well as a slightly thicker neck.
Flight feathers
Even though most chicks, male or female, have the female plumage pattern until about day 90, the feathers can be used to determine their sex. Since female chicks usually get their first flight feathers much earlier than males.
More questions about keeping ducks:
How much do ducks cost?
Ducks cost an average of 20 to 35 dollars per duck, with drakes being more expensive than hens. You can often buy an Indian runner duck for around 10 dollars. Ducklings can often be bought at 4 to 7 dollars per duckling.
Can you keep ducks without a pond?
Ducks don’t urgently need a pond, but they always need access to water where they can swim and clean their feathers. A large pool, for example, can serve as a substitute.
Can ducks eat bread?
Even though you commonly see wild ducks being fed bread in parks, it is not a healthy food for them. The bread may satiate them, but it doesn’t contain many other nutrients that ducks need. Also, bread often contains lots of sugar and salt, which is not healthy for ducks.
Can chickens and ducks live together?
Chickens and ducks can usually be kept together without problems, but they should be housed in separate pens and require different feed. Here is a whole article about how you can keep a mixed flock of ducks and chickens.
How long do ducks live?
Mallards usually live 5 to 10 years, but ducks can live up to 20 years if well cared for.
What do you need for a duck coop?
A duck house should be as spacious as possible, well ventilated and well lit (preferably with daylight).
In addition, the following things should not be missing in a duck house:
- Feed and water troughs
- Bedding e.g. straw or hay
- some nesting boxes
Size of the duck coop:
- 3 to 5 square feet per duck
How much space do ducks need?
Ducks need comparatively much space, as a rule of thumb you can calculate with 15 to 20 square feet per duck. Indian runner ducks should have more space, because they love to move and explore.
How can you tame your ducks?
To gain the trust of your ducks, you need a bit of patience, depending on the breed. It’s best to stay as quiet as possible around them so they don’t get spooked, and entice them with their favorite food. Over time, they will trust you more and more and seek your company.
What do duck eggs taste like?
Compared to chicken eggs, duck eggs taste more intensely of egg and are creamier due to their higher fat content.
Are ducks noisy?
Ducks are very communicative and quack at every opportunity. How loud they are depends on the duck breed and gender. Drakes (male ducks) are much quieter than females. Call Ducks are known to be one of the loudest duck breeds, whereas muscovy ducks are considered one of the quietest.
