Ducks bill color and proper diet.

[Rhondax6]

We got a new girl pekin last night and her bill is a bright orange compared to our pale yellow billed girl. Does this have anything to do with their diets? Which begs the question, what is a proper diet for a pekin? One is a year old, the other was hatched this spring.

Thanks!

 

[steelchair]

I have two Rouen hens that were purchased as 1 day olds. One has a yellow orange bill and the other has an olive green bill. They eat the same and free range all day together. I think it is in the genes that determines bill color.

 

[Blondiega1]

My boy Taz has a flesh colored bill, while my other 5 all have the bright orange bill.
They all get Purina Flock Raiser.
Everybody is healthy and happy!
I think it's just a color variation in bill color and nothing to be concerned about.

 

[crissycriss]

I have 5 pekins three have flesh colored bills 2 have bright orange bills.One of my duck books said that a pure pekin has a bright orange bill and feet. A flesh or whitish bill means they have aylesburry in there lines somewhere.Unless she starts out brite orange then starts losing color/fading. The more they lay there bill will fade. Hope this helped some.

 

[Rhondax6]

Thanks everyone!

 

[zooweemama]

I have 3 Pekins- 2 have rich orange bills and feet and 1 has pale feet and pale bill. I assumed a fluke of genetics.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I suspect that the ducks with pale bills are from hatcheries. Hatcheries don't pay any attention to the Standard of Perfection and often sell birds, both chickens and ducks, with incorrect color on their bills and feet.

General consensus of opinion among serious fanciers is that the incorrect bill color denotes mixed breeding. However, it won't affect the health of your duck and she will still be a lovely pet.

It's genetics and not a poor reflection on your care and feeding.

 

[Moments]

We got a new girl pekin last night and her bill is a bright orange compared to our pale yellow billed girl. Does this have anything to do with their diets? Which begs the question, what is a proper diet for a pekin? One is a year old, the other was hatched this spring.

Thanks!

It can but often the two are not related. I had a Pekin drake out of a group of 6 ducklings (5 drakes, 1 duck) that had a pale beak from day one. It was almost pink in color and stayed that way. He was fine. I looked online back then and it said Pekins can have a bright orange or pale in color beak.

 

[Moments]

I have 5 pekins three have flesh colored bills 2 have bright orange bills.One of my duck books said that a pure pekin has a bright orange bill and feet. A flesh or whitish bill means they have aylesburry in there lines somewhere.Unless she starts out brite orange then starts losing color/fading. The more they lay there bill will fade. Hope this helped some.

I noticed my Pekin girls beak has started to fade. I had a drake who's beak was pale from day one (more pink in color) but hers is a pale orange now where it used to be bright. She's healthy, eating, walking, showing lots of attitude (per usual) so no signs of illness. She's been laying since October so wondering if this is why.