How Do I Tell Baby Ducks' Gender?

Sexing ducks is important to farmers and breeders, whether they are raising ducks for food or pets. Ducks being raised for food must be sexed so farmers know which ducks will produce eggs and hatchlings. Ducks raised to be pets must be sexed so the males and females can be kept apart to prevent accidents. Sexing is also very important for breeders. Knowing the sex of his animals helps the breeder decide which ducks to breed together and which ducks to keep apart.

  1. Sexing Through Observation

    • Young ducks often all look the same, but at about 2 1/2 months ducklings begin to quack. Listen to the quacks of each duck; females quack very loudly while males have a quiet, whispery quack.
      Look at the ducklings' feathers. When the adult feathers begin to grow in, male and female ducks have different feather colors. The differences may be obvious, as in green-headed mallards, or more subtle. Look at the head feathers; males usually have a darker head.

    Vent Sexing

    • Vent sexing means observing the ducks' sexual organs. Always recruit the help of an expert breeder when vent sexing to avoid harming the ducks.
      Catch a duckling and gently turn it so that its head lays against your wrist and its feet are sticking in the air. Look for a small dip in the feathers near its tail; this is the vent. Use the index and middle fingers of your free hand to very gently spread open the vent. Males will have a small penis that may take a few moments to appear. Females will have flat, cone-shaped genitals.