Swedish blue sexing - Bill me - drake by mistake

[Maddog_photog]

Hey guys!
I just read that Swedish Blue drakes have green bills, and now I am concerned one of my Swedes is a boy because one has a green tint to their Bill. Can anyone confirm or deny that this green tint is indicating a male duck?

 

[Duckmom27]

I don't have enough experience to speak as to swedish blues in general but here are pictures of mine. I have a male and a female. My drake's bill was always a lighter shade than my swedish blue hen's bill, but he is also a lighter color in general so it may not mean much.

Boy up front with the pekin, female's head toward the back

Female in front, male in back

The two of them now, begging for a cob of corn. His bill has taken on a much more obvious green color now that he's older

 

[Maddog_photog]

I don't have enough experience to speak as to swedish blues in general but here are pictures of mine. I have a male and a female. My drake's bill was always a lighter shade than my swedish blue hen's bill, but he is also a lighter color in general so it may not mean much.

Boy up front with the pekin, female's head toward the back
View attachment 2256119

Female in front, male in back
View attachment 2256120

The two of them now, begging for a cob of corn. His bill has taken on a much more obvious green color now that he's older
View attachment 2256121

So there could be a correlation?

 

[Maddog_photog]

I don't have enough experience to speak as to swedish blues in general but here are pictures of mine. I have a male and a female. My drake's bill was always a lighter shade than my swedish blue hen's bill, but he is also a lighter color in general so it may not mean much.

Boy up front with the pekin, female's head toward the back
View attachment 2256119

Female in front, male in back
View attachment 2256120

The two of them now, begging for a cob of corn. His bill has taken on a much more obvious green color now that he's older
View attachment 2256121

Beautiful ducks btw. I’m sure glad I swapped out my mallards for my Swedish Babies. I have to figure out what to do if I have a drake in the mix.

 

[Duckmom27]

So there could be a correlation?

There could be but I don't know enough to say for sure. Mine are a small sample size haha. But there was a difference for my two at least, and his bill gradually got lighter and greener over time

 

[Maddog_photog]

There could be but I don't know enough to say for sure. Mine are a small sample size haha. But there was a difference for my two at least, and his bill gradually got lighter and greener over time

Right now, it appears so. We shall see what happens! I already have one Pekin duck and one Pekin drake. If I get another Drake or, God forbid, TWO drakes from my Swedes, I won’t know what to do. Culling is out of the question, I don’t want to get rid of them - I’m quite attached. Ugh

 

[corriemartin]

I have ten Swedish blues, and neither of my drakes has a green bill, but several of the hens do.

 

[Maddog_photog]

I have ten Swedish blues, and neither of my drakes has a green bill, but several of the hens do.

This! THIS is good news!
Oh Lord! I am praying for two hens!

 

[Duckmom27]

Fingers crossed for you! I ended up with two drakes and two hens and now I'm having to brainstorm the best way/time to add more females to my flock

 

[Maddog_photog]

Fingers crossed for you! I ended up with two drakes and two hens and now I'm having to brainstorm the best way/time to add more females to my flock

I am urban like Keith so I don’t have room to add to my flock. So I think I’ll just have to build my duck house with two “rooms” to keep species separated at night.