Breed question - rouen or mallard and flying

[Kelster65]

I'm back on the thread to ask about the sex of these two. I know the one with the green bill is a drake. He's obviously changing color, has his drake feather and he sounds like a male. The one with the orange bill is perplexing. I thought this was a drake but he's not changing color, the dark on his head has not spread nor does he have a drake feather yet. I believe I've heard him sound like a drake. Am I mistaken and he is actually a hen or is he maturing slower/differently? I saw green on his head and back weeks before the other Drake's green bill was pronounced.

 

[Luv Ducks]

It looks like my Hens to me. Mine got the olive green beaks pretty soon and you could tell by their voices they were drakes.

 

[Luv Ducks]

It looks like my Hens to me. Mine got the olive green beaks pretty soon and you could tell by their voices they were drakes.

My Drakes all have the darker chest too like your Drake does. My Hens have the more speckled chest that you can see more definition in. That was another way I could always tell. I hope it is a hen if that is what you want which most of us do, they sure are pretty!

 

[Kelster65]

In case anyone finds this post later and is going crazy like I was trying to figure out the sex of your Rouen's, I'm posting an update. Out of 6 little unsexed peeps purchased from TSC, I am joyful that I wound up with 1 STUNNING (in my opinion) drake and 5 gorgeous hens. I waited and guessed based on foot size, bill color, voice, feathers.. you name it. I had one with a bright yellow bill who watched over everyone so I named him/her Jake, one with an olive bill and 4 with brown/ orange bills. I was puzzled by the bright yellow bill because (he/she) Jake only squeaked never quacked, and had a beautiful green cast to the head and back. Kept me guessing, and tried to teach me patience. As they molted their juvenile feathers, Puddleton with the olive bill became more stunning by the day and Jake finally quacked and became Jackie. Haha.... wow. They're 17 1/2 weeks old and I saw them breeding in the pond today so now I'm waiting on eggs. They're still trying to teach me patience.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Gorgeous

 

[Luv Ducks]

In case anyone finds this post later and is going crazy like I was trying to figure out the sex of your Rouen's, I'm posting an update. Out of 6 little unsexed peeps purchased from TSC, I am joyful that I wound up with 1 STUNNING (in my opinion) drake and 5 gorgeous hens. I waited and guessed based on foot size, bill color, voice, feathers.. you name it. I had one with a bright yellow bill who watched over everyone so I named him/her Jake, one with an olive bill and 4 with brown/ orange bills. I was puzzled by the bright yellow bill because (he/she) Jake only squeaked never quacked, and had a beautiful green cast to the head and back. Kept me guessing, and tried to teach me patience. As they molted their juvenile feathers, Puddleton the olive bill became more stunning by the day and Jake finally quacked and became Jackie. Haha.... wow. They're 17 1/2 weeks old and I saw them breeding in the pond today so now I'm waiting on eggs. They're still trying to teach me patience.

WOW!!!! The drake is beautiful and you are so fortunate to get that many hens!!! I love my duck eggs that I eat daily fried for breakfast every morning. Hopefully yours will start laying soon. My Rouen ducks gave me big white ones for years and now that they are 7 they are not laying since winter is coming soon and it is finally starting to cool off. Congratulations on a beautiful flock!!!