Gender identification Muscovy

[Canadian Wind]

I might have changed my mind.

It hatched at the end of June, so that means it's three months old. If it's as big as an adult female at three months, it is probably male

See? I'm not the only one confused!

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

I dont know if this helps but these three wild ducks were born July 10th and are all female so you can see the expected size difference between a 3 month old female muscovy vs. its mama. I'd reckon yours being 10 days older wouldn't be that much difference to the young adults here.

 

[joesandy1822]

When I picked the duck up, I was told that several others in that same clutch were already processed and in the freezer because they were so large. There were also two others with this duck that were larger than it is. So she thought those were also drake’s. But there were 3 others that all looked to be pretty close to the same size as this one. I suppose I’m just gonna have to wait for its voice to come, but that could be a while. And if it takes another couple months, and I end up with a drake, I’ll have to rehome it and start all over finding a hen. That’s gonna be a real bummer for me and my hen.

Now I’m wishing I would’ve held out for a mature female, but around me, they are few and far between.

Thanks again, everybody!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

When I picked the duck up, I was told that several others in that same clutch were already processed and in the freezer because they were so large. There were also two others with this duck that were larger than it is. So she thought those were also drake’s. But there were 3 others that all looked to be pretty close to the same size as this one. I suppose I’m just gonna have to wait for its voice to come, but that could be a while. And if it takes another couple months, and I end up with a drake, I’ll have to rehome it and start all over finding a hen. That’s gonna be a real bummer for me and my hen.

Now I’m wishing I would’ve held out for a mature female, but around me, they are few and far between.

Thanks again, everybody!

Do you know if she has exhibition lines? The exhibition lines tend to be larger than the hatchery and lower quality lines. If it is exhibition lines even if it was a hen she would be a little bigger as an adult compared to a standard Muscovy hen.

 

[joesandy1822]

Do you know if she has exhibition lines? The exhibition lines tend to be larger than the hatchery and lower quality lines. If it is exhibition lines even if it was a hen she would be a little bigger as an adult compared to a standard Muscovy hen.

I don’t know if she would even know what that means. Is that show talk, or something every Muscovy owner would know?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I don’t know if she would even know what that means. Is that show talk, or something every Muscovy owner would know?

It just means show lines, but show lines tend to be the older more true to the original. For example my exhibition English Orpingtons make my hatchery orpingtons look almost like a different breed because of their bulky, rounder and larger body size. Mine are also from the older English lines so they are more true to the original orpingtons. You can see from the pictures just how much an exhibition line can defer from a hatchery or lower quality within the same breed.
Exhibition English Orp:

Hatchery English Orp:

 

[joesandy1822]

Ok everybody. MAYBE this is important info….or not.

Today I spent about an hour sitting and observing the new duck. “It” makes little, quiet chirpy or squeaky sounds. They are not identical to my 3 year old hen, but it definitely isn’t raspy or huffing.

At this age (about 3 months old), would that indicate a hen, or could it still be “baby” sounds?

I’m cautiously optimistic. All you who have commented, what do you think?

 

[joesandy1822]

It just means show lines, but show lines tend to be the older more true to the original. For example my exhibition English Orpingtons make my hatchery orpingtons look almost like a different breed because of their bulky, rounder and larger body size. Mine are also from the older English lines so they are more true to the original orpingtons. You can see from the pictures just how much an exhibition line can defer from a hatchery or lower quality within the same breed.
Exhibition English Orp:
View attachment 3958624

Hatchery English Orp:
View attachment 3958626

Wow, she is gorgeous!!!

 

[Canadian Wind]

Ok everybody. MAYBE this is important info….or not.

Today I spent about an hour sitting and observing the new duck. “It” makes little, quiet chirpy or squeaky sounds. They are not identical to my 3 year old hen, but it definitely isn’t raspy or huffing.

At this age (about 3 months old), would that indicate a hen, or could it still be “baby” sounds?

I’m cautiously optimistic. All you who have commented, what do you think?

Not trying to discourage you, but when I first started out with scovies I'd bought a chocolate of about that age, being told it was male. And then it made little trilly sounds! I was upset thinking I'd gotten a female, but it was just juvenile vocalizations and he did turn out male.

So, this is to say that it's still up in the air.

 

[joesandy1822]

Not trying to discourage you, but when I first started out with scovies I'd bought a chocolate of about that age, being told it was male. And then it made little trilly sounds! I was upset thinking I'd gotten a female, but it was just juvenile vocalizations and he did turn out male.

So, this is to say that it's still up in the air.

Ah, poop. Is there a magic age at which their “voice” is a reliable indicator?