r/duck • • Apr 14 '26

Public Service Announcement drake feathers and what they indicate

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146 Upvotes

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 • • Jun 22 '23

Public Service Announcement We Need Your Input - Duck Veterinarian List

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44 Upvotes

r/duck • • 10h ago

Wild Ducks Met this beautiful duck on my lunch break today

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141 Upvotes

It was lovely to see her so close up, such beautiful feathers.


r/duck • • 12h ago

Breed/Species/Sex ID Is this duck a male or female?

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66 Upvotes

I’ve been feeding this duck for a while now. I’m pretty sure it’s a domesticated duck but I don’t know what its sex is. It’s much bigger than the other ducks at the pond I go to.


r/duck • • 10h ago

Eggs/Incubation/Hatching first runner egg!

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40 Upvotes

My beautiful little lady just laid her first egg today! She’s an indian runner and 4 months and 23 days old. I don’t know if that’s average, soon or late, as she’s my first duck, that I hatched from an egg myself. I’m so proud of her (and me, I guess). She’s the only one that made it out of 6 eggs that I tried to hatch. I think she turned out gorgeous.


r/duck • • 12h ago

Wild Ducks Common shelducks taking off

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17 Upvotes

r/duck • • 21h ago

Wild Ducks Helping the neighborhood duck this winter

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64 Upvotes

Hello, I live on a small lake and earlier this spring (shortly after easter) someone abandoned some domesticated ducks in the lake. One has survived and we are somewhat friends, although he will not let me get too close. We do have a solid breakfast and dinner routine. What can I do to give him the best chance at survival this winter? Parts of the lake freeze, though I’m not sure how much, as this is also my first year on the lake. Picture of Decoy as tax for your expert assistance. TIA


r/duck • • 10h ago

Eggs/Incubation/Hatching Is my duck egg still alive

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7 Upvotes

i rescued this egg that was all by himself with little hope but decided to take it in and incubate. hes believed to have been laid like a day before a storm and i scooped him up the day after. no nest, no other eggs, and no mama in sight. these pictures were all taken in the same day, about the day 8 mark. theres a line but i cant tell if its like a blood ring or a vein. it only goes about a 3rd of the way around. there was barely a shadow when i first candled but now theres a prominent one. is he dead or alive?


r/duck • • 47m ago

Health Questions why did my duckling die?

• Upvotes

to sum up everything i found an abandoned duckling, none of the duck mothers wanted him, i took him inside, fed him, gave him water any kept him warm, i went out today, he was warm fed and happy, my sister took care of him, an hour after she checked on him he looked sluggish, so she held him for 3 hours until i died, i gave him the right food, always kept him warm, gave him water, he was drinking, eating and pooping alright, i dont understand what happened or what i did wrong and i feel terrible


r/duck • • 17h ago

Beginner's Question What does it mean when my ducks do this?

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21 Upvotes

r/duck • • 1d ago

Eggs/Incubation/Hatching Question about duck eggs

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118 Upvotes

Hi all, I’m wondering if anyone in this community sells duck eggs. I’ve mentioned it to a couple people that when my buff Orpington ducks get older I will start selling/eating the eggs and everyone has found it odd? Is this not a common thing?😂 obviously it’s not as common as chicken eggs but an egg is an egg.


r/duck • • 1d ago

Call Duck Duck Butts

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88 Upvotes

r/duck • • 1d ago

Pools/Ponds/Water The most important, & first thing I take a picture of at disney

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52 Upvotes

ducks


r/duck • • 1d ago

Worried Duck Mom My duckling is gasping? Is this normal?

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56 Upvotes

My baby keeps opening her mouth like she is going to yawn, but then does it multiple times in a row, like she's gasping or coughing without sound. She has water. I'm worried she could have a pea stuck in her throat, but the time I fed them (crushed) peas was well over 12 hours ago. She looks otherwise healthy, but it's also my first time owning ducks. I'm more familiar with chickens. Is this something to be concerned about?


r/duck • • 1d ago

Wild Ducks In a swirl

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25 Upvotes

r/duck • • 1d ago

Breed/Species/Sex ID What is this duck

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18 Upvotes

duck I saw at work today in central MN.


r/duck • • 2d ago

Wild Ducks Emerald green Duck

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151 Upvotes

r/duck • • 1d ago

Meet the Flock I have had my ducks since February 🥰

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tiktok.com
11 Upvotes

As the title says, I have had my ducks since February. They were ducklings when I got them. Later on I found out that one was a girl one was a boy. I did find out that they started to mate and started to producing eggs so I’m excited to announce that I will start incubating at least three eggs for right now to see how I do and started collecting her eggs to refrigerator and eat. So i was so excited I made a TikTok page for them. I’ll link it right here if I’m allowed to. But I’m 100% still new to this so if you wanna give me some advice, please do so. Thank you.🥰


r/duck • • 2d ago

Meet the Flock ITS MY BOYS 1ST BIRTHDAY! 🎂 🦆 🎈

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253 Upvotes

Happy 1st birthday to my sweetest, sassiest, feathery boys! 😍🦆

All the mess you make is totally worth it for the love nibbles and the absolute joy you bring! ❤️❤️

Love love looooove my beautiful boys 😍😍


r/duck • • 1d ago

Breed/Species/Sex ID Drake or Hen?

10 Upvotes

Tickles voice is starting to change, but im struggling to figure out what she is. Hatched Sept 3rd, dad is a mallard, mom is a runner.


r/duck • • 2d ago

Babies! new baby ducklings

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112 Upvotes

My parents surprises me with 3 pekin duckings.
It's been about 7 months since my last duckling died (unknown / natural causes) and have been waiting for spring time to come back around so I could get some new baby's and I finally have.
They are a bit dirty in the first photo due to them just finishing eating and drinking and making a wet mess of food😂 they have since been cleaned up


r/duck • • 2d ago

Wild Ducks Having a beer by the river in Kerikeri, NZ when we got a visit.

19 Upvotes

r/duck • • 2d ago

Wild Ducks Several Duck Varieties Swimming Near Yellow Irises (own content)

49 Upvotes

r/duck • • 2d ago

Call Duck Waterrats 💗

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240 Upvotes

r/duck • • 2d ago

Wild Ducks Thirsty ducky

96 Upvotes