these snowy call ducks I thought were all female but now I'm thinking are all males. They do not have a drake tail but their heads seem darker than what the females are. Could anyone help confirm if they are Male or female?
It depends on their age and breed. TIP(s)
This works for my Runner Ducks... But applies to most ducklings.(*)
Pick up your duckling and see if it makes a 'noise'... Best to do on its own and away from the other ducklings !
You need to listen carefully.
GIRLS :
Hens (Female) "Honk", Quack loudly (!)
They have smaller body weight and body length on lying down. (Measure from their chest to tail.) Have thinner legs and smaller feet. Some have speckled beaks on maturity. (*)
No curl feather (males have this.) Females seem to lead the line of walkers. (Males tend to follow the girls, and are at the back of flock.)
BOYS :
Drakes (Male) "Rasp", they sound 'muffled,' and are "quiet". They are bigger, in size and weight. (Compared to that of, top female duckling growth.)
They are have a rounder and more pronounced chest (profile from side.) They are longer from chest to tail, on lying down. Have a curl tail feather.
"C" shaped feather on mid, top of tail feathers. (Females don't have this.)
Males can have brighter orange beaks and feet to that of females.(*)
Males have far brighter 'Green' tone feathers, if non white breeds..
Males "follow" behind females (!) And "bob their heads" up and down, when communicating with other ducks.
As I mentioned, applies to most duck breeds. Look for images or video of your ducks on eg YouTube... (*#)
(# ) Muscovy Ducks are 'ducks,' they have red beaks ! But show more characteristics to that of geese.
My duckling "Daisy" a White/Fawn Runner duck peeped and did "quacks" at times from an early age ! I would say from around 2 weeks old and onwards.
Hope this helps you find who is a girl and who is a boy ! Tip
If you are wanting to breed ducks, it's a good idea to have x2 boys, (so you have a 'spare' to do the deed !) And, when its lovey-dovey season,
and, if the action on them is to much !!! ... You can remove the boys, so they live on their own as 'Bros' as bachelors next to but not with the
girls ! BUT when time for a 'family,'
they can be introduced, then removed, if due to raging hormones !!! And live as lads in their own pad, until they are over being so loved-up.