Think I just discovered how to tell the gender of a Magpie Duck!

[OreoPlymothRock]

Female Adult:



Female Duckling:




Male Adult:




Male Duckling:




Does anyone think that this Method works for Magpie Ducks?

 

[Kevin565]

I don't think it's going to be a accurate method of sexing but I've never personally raised Magpies.

 

[Frank Phinster]

You would actually have to try this method wiht several hatches before being sure that this method is sound. The pattern on the bills can vary from individual to individual and does not necessary depend on the sex. Are the pictures taken from the same birds, as ducklings and grown-ups?
Would be interesting to try whether the method works but I guess unless there's an expert out there you would need to do a little research. Which actually sounds pretty interesting in my opinion.

 

[OreoPlymothRock]

they are all different ducks. that's why I think I know that this method works. The female duckling also squeaks louder than the male duckling.

 

[jdywntr]

I don't think Magpies are one of the breeds that can be sexed by bill color. According to Storey's Guide their bills are supposed to be yellow or orange in young birds turning green graduallywith age. In sexing by bill color it is gray varieties and the drake's bill will be dull green and the hen's dark brown or orange.

 

[LaynaDon95]

This is my female Magpie's bill. (Well, she's supposed to be a female.) Looks very different from yours, but closer to your male's. I think that's really interesting that yours look so similar, but I don't think it's very accurate.

 

[Frank Phinster]

With only few specimen the similarities in bill colouring can be purely coincidential.
Are there any breeds that can be sexed only by bill colour? I know that there certain colours which genes are on the sex chromosomes, but then you would take the whole colouring to distinguish male from female.

 

[Kevin565]

With only few specimen the similarities in bill colouring can be purely coincidential.
Are there any breeds that can be sexed only by bill colour? I know that there certain colours which genes are on the sex chromosomes, but then you would take the whole colouring to distinguish male from female.

Certain strains of Welsh Harlequins can still be sexed by bill color.

 

[bettythegreat]

My cat Ivana lured and was playing with a stray duck in the front yard this morning. A neighbor said this duck is constantly in the street, and that the 'owners' take terrible care of it and all their cats are skinny; it's wings are filthy and I think that's algae on its beak so I don't think she had access to a water source to clean herself, and I think her right wing is sore, no blood stains so not sure why. Unless a kid comes crying to the door for it and shows me an improved set up I think she'll be happier here. Ivana is such a philanthropist. After some breed research online I discovered she is a magpie, when I was searching for ducklings in the area when I got mine I don't remember seeing any breeders or magpies available, she is beautiful.

 

[MrsPopcorn]

Female Adult:



Female Duckling:




Male Adult:




Male Duckling:




Does anyone think that this Method works for Magpie Ducks?

Right now we have 3 Magpie ducks. I told my husband today that the male has a greenish gray colored bill and the females have yellow with black spots/specks on them. I was correct because the male grew his drake feather! So, maybe it can be done that way. I bet it doesn't work for all of them though.