How to distinguish an indo-duck from a drake: how sex is determined, the difference between males and females

Properly organized care of poultry is the key to a he althy flock. Breeders know that the care of male and female Muscovy ducks is significantly different. But even experienced owners cannot always give a clear answer to the question of how to distinguish a drake from an indo-cat. Let's look into the intricacies of the dissimilarity of birds brought to the territory of Russia relatively recently - only 40 years ago.

Obvious differences between adult females and males

The first difference that catches your eye is the color of the plumage. In females, it is much duller than in the representatives of the stronger sex. Drakes have a brighter coloration, a massive head with a tuft.

Signs that will help distinguish an Indo-Duck from a Drake:

Feather cover is formed graduallyBeakMassive, has the shape of a triangle. A rough hump forms over the beakPale pink skin color over the beakMass of an adult domesticated individual, kg Torso Powerful, with strong massive legsNarrow

Differences	Male	Female
Tail	Twisted up	Perfectly even
Plumage	Feathers and down are fully formed by 3 months of age
4.6-6.8	2.7-3.6

It is very difficult for a beginner to determine the gender of Muscovy ducks. In addition to the above points, birds are distinguished by their demeanor. The ideal bird ratio is 4:1. If the proportion is not respected, the females in the herd will behave like males, or vice versa.

How to determine the gender of indo-children

From the first days after birth, it is very difficult to determine the sex of the young. 4 ways to divide the young herd into “girls” and “boys”:

1. By behavior. The most pugnacious and cocky duckling is the dominant male in the future. After watching him, the owner will see who he does not allow to the feeder, in relation to whom he shows aggression - these are competitors.
2. On the outside. Boy chicks have larger heads than girls. As the young grow, it will become easier to distinguish a duck from a drake. The plumage of future males is a few tones darker.
3. According to sexual characteristics. It makes it possible to determine the sex of a duckling a day after hatching. The chick is placed on the palm with its head towards itself. Gently stretch the skin around the cloaca. If a boy is caught, a rudimentary penis will appear, the size of which is 1.5-2 mm, and spherical growths will open in the girl.
4. By voice. This method allows you to distinguish a musky duck already at the age of one month - it quacks, while the drake makes hissing sounds with a whistle. This feature is explained by the presence of a saccular dilatation in the fork of the trachea in the "guys".

The weight of the stronger sex in adulthood is 2 times the weight of females. The male has a more powerful bend of the neck, a massive body. In addition, boys have strong immunity, they are less likely to be vaccinated than ducks.

Other nuances and interesting surprises

Poultry farmers who have been breeding ducks for several years share the secrets and tricks of sex determination: if there is a threat, the duck will run away and hide, and the drake, on the contrary, will rush into battle.To intimidate an opponent, he will raise his crest. The representatives of the stronger sex let the girls go forward, they themselves stay behind.

Many owners determine gender by the way males strive to run away from the yard. Females behave decorously, they are distinguished by exemplary behavior.

During the period of preparation for breeding, ducks prepare for the appearance of offspring: they take a fancy to and equip nests. Therefore, if you watch them for a while, it immediately becomes noticeable which gender the individual belongs to.

Recommended