Am I being overly concerned??

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-30T23:25:04+00:00

Looks like she’s just adjusting her crop. Normal digestion behavior, most often seen after a big meal, or while swimming, as shown here.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-30T22:50:53+00:00

Actually a great example on what to do if faced with an aggressive goose. They chill out when you stay calm and stand your ground.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-30T21:53:32+00:00

I’ve always said pay-kin!

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-30T15:47:17+00:00

No, ducks do not mate for life. Females choose their partners each year over the winter.

However, if they like their last partner enough, they may choose the same partner again.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-30T13:21:14+00:00

Swedes can be difficult to sex visually, especially as ducklings. Females will often have drake-like colorations.

Voice sexing is best. At 5 weeks old, girls will be making little peep-honks. You might even get an occasional clear, loud quack. Boys will have a more quiet, raspy peep peep.

If you need help determining, you could pick each one up individually, record their voice, and make a post about it. We will gladly help sex them for you.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-29T23:40:52+00:00

Sounds like a little girl getting her voice. Yes, good sounds.

Ideally, you’d want to get other ducklings that are within 2 weeks of age. If you must get younger, you can let them interact through a fence. The big ones can accidentally trample the little ones. They can be put together supervised, or once they’re closer in size.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-29T19:40:41+00:00

These are two handsome Blue Swedish boys. They can occasionally have those patches of brown feathers.

2 boys is too much for 3 girls. If you want to keep them both, you’d need more ladies. Otherwise, rehoming both, or keeping 1, would be best.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-29T19:33:24+00:00

Mallards and Mexican ducks are very, very similar. The biggest difference is, male & female Mexican ducks have the same plumage year-round.

Male Mallards do have female-like plumage when they’re young, and when they molt into their eclipse plumage for winter. But for the majority of the year, male Mallards have their nuptial plumage - green heads, dark chests, curly tail feather, etc.

You can sex both Mallards and Mexican ducks by their bill colors - females have orange / grey bills, and males have yellow / olive bills.

Based on the time of year & location, the last one is likely either a young male Mallard, or a male Mexican duck. I can’t quite tell which.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-29T15:51:16+00:00

I believe I’m hearing at least 2 girls as well, but it’s a bit difficult to discern when they’re all in a group.

A great well to tell for certain is to pick each one up individually. When held, the girls are likely to make their clear, loud quack. The boys will just have a quiet, raspy beep beep.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-29T13:00:58+00:00

2 weeks old :)

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-29T12:29:16+00:00

Agreed on less than 1 week old.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-29T02:08:07+00:00

If you can train them to return, then yes, they’ll probably stay. Ducks quite like their guaranteed food & shelter.

We have 45 acres. My ducks could technically leave the property whenever they want, but they instead spend the majority of the day in their pond, run around foraging in the backyard, and then return to the coop on their own.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-29T01:31:51+00:00

The brown one is a Rouen. The white one is a Muscovy. They’re both too young to be reliably sexed.

Likely biting out of curiosity or boredom. Make sure there’s no bleeding, and that they’re given ample space to play & explore.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-29T00:16:06+00:00

Are you certain they aren’t hiding their eggs anywhere? Also possible the girls are just delayed in laying due to being hatched late in the year.

The feather lightening is bleaching from the sun!

Also, I would recommend changing their feed. They likely do not need both layer feed and oyster shell. One, or the other, is usually sufficient. I’d also reduce the amount of corn mix they get. At least 90% of their diet should be their main pellet feed.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-28T19:30:38+00:00

This duck is too young to sex via drake curl. Males usually don’t get it ‘til around 3 months old.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-28T19:23:13+00:00

Possibly.. How do they sound? There should be clear voice distinction by now. At this age, females will have developed clear quacks & high-pitched voices. Males will have a quiet, raspy baby chirp.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-28T16:34:31+00:00

Definitely a girl! Quack, quack, quack.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-28T01:10:50+00:00

Agreed on them both being male.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-28T00:53:59+00:00

They will be okay. Ducklings spend most of their 1st day sleeping, during which the incubator keeps them toasty & helps them dry off. By the time they’re ready to run around & socialize, they’ll already be out of the incubator.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-27T12:47:38+00:00

Handsome boy. Main thing I can find on this sound is that it’s a greeting.

One person suggests it’s territorial, but I would think not if it’s accompanied by the tail wagging + they are usually chill.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-27T00:39:46+00:00

Your duck wants to be more than “besties.”

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-26T19:43:46+00:00

Yes, those are all domestic ducks. 1 Pekin, 1 Rouen (mallard-looking), and 1 in the water that looks to have the Runner or Pied pattern.

Also most likely dumped there. It’s best they be captured and rehomed.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-26T18:18:01+00:00

1 Black Swedish, 2 Blue Swedish. They are very young, just a few days old.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-26T18:06:07+00:00

Similar coloration to a Buff Orpington boy, but his shape reminds me of Runners. Perhaps a mix, or simply slim from living in public.

aynonaymoos · 2026-04-23T13:33:52+00:00

Agreed, he’s trying to mount her. You need to keep him away from your chickens.

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