My Duckling's Tail Is Curling - Does That Mean Anything?

[farmgirlsomeday]

My little Pekin duckling Anabel (whom we are referring to as a "she" until persuaded otherwise) is only about 11-14 days old. But her tail is unquestionably beginning to curl up. No doubt about it. But she doesn't even have real feathers yet, so does this mean anything relative to her gender? Thanks! - A Total Newbie Duckling Owner

 

[Granny Hatchet]

i have never raised ducks before but the drake will have ONE tail feather just at his back where the tail starts that will curl forward. unless you have one of those fancy ones where they all are curly. when my chicks feathers first start coming in they look like there curled to a point but as they grow, the feathers straighten out.

 

[DeckDuck]

Four years ago, my own Pekin duckling grew into a drake. I don't remember when he grew his first curled tail feather, but he was certainly at least a few months old at that point. So don't worry! What you're seeing is probably just the whole tail curving upwards, as opposed to a few feathers, which is just one of the cute things that ducks of all genders do.

I have my fingers crossed that your duckling is a girl!

Pekin drakes can be quite pinchy. My boy is still as feisty as ever.

 

[RouenDuck]

i have never raised ducks before but the drake will have ONE tail feather just at his back where the tail starts that will curl forward. unless you have one of those fancy ones where they all are curly. when my chicks feathers first start coming in they look like there curled to a point but as they grow, the feathers straighten out.

Hmmmm....I think I have seen more than one curled tail feather on my drakes before. And one of my drakes has one feather that is just slightly lifted, he doesn't have any other curled tail feathers. And one of my other drakes tail feathers is curled all the way around, or maybe more. He might be one of the ones with more curled tail feathers but I can't tell because his tail is so curly. I like seeing the differences in my drakes tails.

 

[desertdarlene]

At this age, it will probably not mean anything because she is growing new baby tail feathers. When he/she gets to be about four months old, it will mean something.

 

[farmgirlsomeday]

Here are a couple of photos that show Anabel's little tail upturned at the end.

 

[Finny]

Here are a couple of photos that show Anabel's little tail upturned at the end.

Thats nothing to worry abou . It doesn't tell you anything about her gender at this age. Ducklings are just so cute!

 

[farmgirlsomeday]

Thank you! She is crazy cute, isn't she?

 

[Finny]

Thank you! She is crazy cute, isn't she?

She makes me want little week old ducklings again, even though I have a 6 week old still living in the house LOL!

 

[desertdarlene]

Here are a couple of photos that show Anabel's little tail upturned at the end.

Looks totally normal and is not related to gender. Such a cutie!