Saxony ducklings - Different colours at birth

[Papaye]

Hello.

Among ducklings born on AUGUST 9th, two are Saxony ducklings... and they are born with different colours.

Here they were at 3-days-old :

And then, at 17-days-old :

I... actually first thought the darker of the two was not a Saxony duckling : after searching on the Internet, I could not find any picture of a so dark Saxony duckling; and so, I thought this duckling was actually, maybe, a Trout coloured Rouen duckling...

But now, at 1-month-old, both of these ducklings have their juvenile feathers emerging... and these feathers are the exact same colour : grey/blueish and brown!

Thus, I can tell they now are confirmed to be Saxony duckling :

...Could someone explain to me why, exactly, one of my duckling was, is so dark coloured...?

I had thought it could be because Saxony are sexable by colours at birth; but apparently, it is not the case...
So... what?
Even my darker Saxony's bill and feet were darker coloured!

Again : I did not find any picture of such a coloured Saxony duckling online.
(Maybe there are pictures, but I have not seen them...)

...I like them : they are my first Saxony ducklings ever, and I got them by buying fertilized eggs online and putting them underneath a broody hen... and I feel really lucky to have then got these two babies.

I don't know what gender they are, but I feel the lighter one is a girl, and the darker one is a boy...?
(Still : help sexing them would be much appreciated!)

Thank you in advance to the ones who will reply!!

 

[TheQueenOfDucks]

Sometimes it just works like that. I've had a completely dark brown Mallard come out totally normal.

 

[Papaye]

Hi!

Sometimes it just works like that. I've had a completely dark brown Mallard come out totally normal.

Oooookay...

I actually thought that, apart for some minor variations/mutations, a duck's colour was inevitably determined by the colour he had at birth...!
(That's why I first thought my darker Saxony duckling being Trout coloured at birth meant he was NOT a Saxony, but maybe a Trout colored Rouen!!)

God... I am ALWAYS learning new things...!

...Thank you for replying.

 

[Mama Mills]

We have two Saxony hens that were born at the end old July and both look like your lighter ones. It’ll be interesting see what what sexes you have. It’s a beautiful breed.

 

[Papaye]

We have two Saxony hens that were born at the end old July and both look like your lighter ones.

They have to be really cute!!
Would you, maybe, want to share pictures...?

It’ll be interesting see what what sexes you have.

Since I don't have any experience with older Saxonies, I don't know if I can easily sex at this age...? Like... by the colour of their rump?
(I am so not lucky with voice sexing, since I already had several drakelets quacking like girls, very late in their teenage weeks/months...!!)

I would be happy with a boy and a girl, but I would actually prefer two girls : I have heard Saxonies lay a lot of eggs, and I really want my ducks to be good layers...!

It’s a beautiful breed.

I think the same.
Their colours are pretty, and both drake and hen look really cute!

I am not (personally) familiar with the breed itself - I don't know of any Saxony around my area -, but they at least sound easy to take care of...?
...I just hope Saxony ducks don't tend to become overweight...?

 

[Mama Mills]

Here’s Willow (standing) and Gemma. Gemma has been significantly smaller since they were babies and sadly she stopped walking about 10 days ago so I’m trying to rehabilitate her. I’m also new to the breed and ducks in general. We have two Silver Appleyards who are a few months older. Willow is the sweetest of our ducks, fingers crossed that Gemma keeps getting stronger!

 

[TheQueenOfDucks]

View attachment 3940977Here’s Willow (standing) and Gemma. Gemma has been significantly smaller since they were babies and sadly she stopped walking about 10 days ago so I’m trying to rehabilitate her. I’m also new to the breed and ducks in general. We have two Silver Appleyards who are a few months older. Willow is the sweetest of our ducks, fingers crossed that Gemma keeps getting stronger!

OMG adorbs

 

[TheQueenOfDucks]

View attachment 3940977Here’s Willow (standing) and Gemma. Gemma has been significantly smaller since they were babies and sadly she stopped walking about 10 days ago so I’m trying to rehabilitate her. I’m also new to the breed and ducks in general. We have two Silver Appleyards who are a few months older. Willow is the sweetest of our ducks, fingers crossed that Gemma keeps getting stronger!

and hope Gemma can recover

 

[Papaye]

Hello.

Here’s Willow (standing) and Gemma.

Ooooooh... They are so cute!
(Thank you for the picture!)

Mines looks darker for the time being - especially on the chest... I hope that does not mean they are boys...?

Gemma has been significantly smaller since they were babies and sadly she stopped walking about 10 days ago so I’m trying to rehabilitate her.

Do you have any idea how you will help her?

...Good luck - sincerely!!
(I would really like you to tell us how it goes...!)

I’m also new to the breed and ducks in general.

God... you are then really not lucky to have a disabled duck as one of your firsts...

We have two Silver Appleyards who are a few months older.

Okay!
That's a cute, cute breed!!

Willow is the sweetest of our ducks, fingers crossed that Gemma keeps getting stronger!

Yeah... I so hope for you, and for them, Gemma will get better eventually...!!

 

[Mama Mills]

@Papaye I’m treating her for niacin deficiency. There’s a sticky thread on that if you’re interested in learned about it. It mostly involves giving liquid b vitamins, poultry cell and water therapy.