How old are my Muscovy Ducklings?

[AKCub]

I have had my ducklings home for a week now and I am questioning the age of them as given by the breeder.

They are supposed to be 3 and a half weeks old now but I keep seeing pictures of other folks ducks at about this age that either look a lot older or younger than mine. I want to change them from a 21% protein duck starter food to a 16% duck food at the right time and that's why I am worried about getting the age right. I also read I should stop making food available 24/7 about now and only feed them in the morning and evening. They aren't spending much time outside right now - only a couple hours a day so not much in the way of supplemental food from the yard.

I can't believe how fast they are growing in any case! When I open up the coop each morning it's like seeing a whole new trio.

Any guesses on sex yet?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[ian4379]

top picture, my guess on sex is left to right duck, duck , drake(not sure on the first one). it the middle one slightly younger? i'm not sure if i'm aloud to do this but here's a link to an australian forum which i've put photo's up of ducklings as they progress. the ages are exactly right, you can compare your to them for reference.

http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=8004192

 

[Bleenie]

I raise my Muscovies on a 16% feed, from ducklings to adulthood. Yours do look between 3-4weeks old. The Blue one definitely looks like a boy, The Blue Fawn(light brown) one looks like a girl and the chocolate one i am just not sure about, may be a big girl though.

 

[Going Quackers]

The aging sounds about right to me as well. I am probably strange but i free choice feed all my birds..( my oldest ones are 3mths + younger ones pushing 4-5wks) My first set have done fine doing this.. so i dunno what to say lol i use all purina feeds here.

This is the whole flock just a couple days ago... there are two ducklings in that pen.. hard to tell though

 

[Miss Lydia]

I also free feed my ducks, duckling. The only time they don't have acsess to food is during the night while they are sleeping. And thats after 3 weeks old. They sure are adorable. Congrats.

I use Purina feed also

 

[AKCub]

Thanks for the information gang.

I'm going to swap them from crumbles to pellets in the next couple days based on their age then.

Till the next new duck owner question-

Thanks again,

Scott

 

[AKCub]

Updated pictures:

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are adorable, seems like yeasterday my duckling was that young, now hes 3 months old..

they grow so fast..

 

[jc_d1]

i'm not sure if i'm aloud to do this but here's a link to an australian forum which i've put photo's up of ducklings as they progress. the ages are exactly right, you can compare your to them for reference.

http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=8004192

Thanks for posting this ian4379 I can't recall exactly how old my ducklings were when I got them and can't find the sellers e-mail so being able to compare to your photos has at least given me an approximate age for them.