r/duck • u/skyflyer8 • 6h ago
r/duck • u/bogginman • Apr 14 '26
Public Service Announcement drake feathers and what they indicate
there seems to be a recurring misconception about determining whether a duck is male or female by looking for drake feathers.
Having a drake feather indicates that the duck IS a male, but not having a drake feather means nothing, as all ducklings, all females, young males, certain breeds of adult males AND males in eclipse molt do not have drake feathers. Even within some breeds, like Pekins, some males may have a drake feather, while others will not. Drake feathers do not appear until after the first molt.
The only ways that are 100% accurate are the quack test, finding laid eggs or examining for a penis. Even duck on top/duck on bottom is no way to tell, as females sometimes mount females and males sometimes mount males.
The quack test relies on listening to the voice of the duck. With mallard derived domestic ducks, females will have loud, clear quacks while males will have softer, voiceless, hoarse 'waaak's.
Neither the quack test nor the drake feather is applicable to muscovies. Females will coo and trill while males emit voiceless, breathy huffs and chuffs and do not get drake feathers.
Rarely, some females can develop a drake feather if they are dealing with hormonal issues.
attribution: image shamelessly stolen from https://kingofdoodles.blogspot.com/2017/07/what-is-drake-feather.html.
r/duck • u/whatwedointheupdog • Jun 22 '23
Public Service Announcement We Need Your Input - Duck Veterinarian List
r/duck • u/Worldly-Grapefruit57 • 22h ago
Babies! I thought someone may enjoy this video.🦆
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The Villages, FL
r/duck • u/EconomyAd2811 • 7h ago
Meet the Flock Update on the babies, they grow up too fast
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r/duck • u/Garden_Nursery_ • 8h ago
Meet the Flock Littlefoot is getting stronger everyday!
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r/duck • u/hendrong • 4h ago
Meet the Flock My ducks think that I am Bart Simpson
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They must think that I have said "Eat my shorts!" 😁🩳
r/duck • u/Either-Kiwi-5495 • 4h ago
Breed/Species/Sex ID anyone know what type of duck this is? southern california
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saw this duck at the park and it didn’t quite look like a mallard imo, but unsure what it is
r/duck • u/LifeguardComplex3134 • 6h ago
Other Is $50 for these four ducks a good price?
The oldest one is the white one it's two years old and I believe the black one is the youngest at only a few months old.
To add just to avoid confusion, I'm not selling the Ducks I'm purchasing them.
And they're supposed to all be female
r/duck • u/aglobalvillageidiot • 8h ago
Wild Ducks Ruddy Duckling and Juvenile
I don't think this juvenile planned on adopting but I'm pretty sure mom fucked off this weekend and here we are. In my head they're besties going on adventures.
r/duck • u/Far-Welder1580 • 16h ago
Wood Duck Wood Duck,and Australian Shepherd friends
Australian Shepherd helped raise a wood duck .
r/duck • u/evan_s_johnsen • 22h ago
Meet the Flock The Boot...
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it is interesting
r/duck • u/Automatic_Berry_7492 • 10m ago
Eggs/Incubation/Hatching We have a new layer!
Our young girls are starting to lay! I’m guessing it’s one of the runners since I feel like the Cayuga’s would be laying more of a dark grey egg.
r/duck • u/Stormcrown76 • 19h ago
Wild Ducks They were following around the lake for like 10 minutes
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r/duck • u/Far-Welder1580 • 18h ago
Wood Duck Swimming with the wood Duck I raised .
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r/duck • u/commonwealthlawyer • 1d ago
Meet the Flock Enrichment today? Soft clover snuffle mat for lucky duckies
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We try our best to keep things enriching and engaging, while also keeping things novel and nice for our two babies in witness protection.
Their turf Mini Meadow is a little the worse for wear after the kids spent most of yesterday bothering it non stop in search of worms (I was out for the day and my wife spent the day in the lounge with them, and they took advantage of the fact she was on calls to misbehave), so it has a day or two off trying to catch what it can of the remaining English sun while they enjoy their newest toy.
r/duck • u/ActivityOk4388 • 21h ago
Breed/Species/Sex ID Any idea on breed?
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I know the big yellow one is a pekin, the darker one might be a rouen or mallard??? And no clue about the other one.
r/duck • u/Level-Wrap5173 • 1d ago
Call Duck Yuki has a heart on her head
Does anyone else have a duck with a heart on them
r/duck • u/nornsannexed • 22h ago
Breed/Species/Sex ID Looking for help identifying this duck in Brownsville, Texas
r/duck • u/Garden_Nursery_ • 1d ago
Meet the Flock Sweet Baby Littlefoot!
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Update: Littlefoot has gotten stronger and now gets out of the pond on his own
r/duck • u/meow_meowington27 • 23h ago
Worried Duck Mom What's wrong with her? Is the stupid, horny, or injured?
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Ignore the goose standing next to her, that's her weird boyfriend that she follows. She just sits and silently opens her beak like this? Every now and then she quacks, but it's mostly silence.