Duck Brood Hatch?

[Go Big Red!]

 Q&A:

We had a new hatch of ducks in the backyard pond this year.  11 hens and ZERO drakes.  Is this common?

And today, July 27, we now have a brand new brood with 7 ducklings still with yellow fuzz.  This seems late in the year or did (Not certain) the original hen have another hatch?

I'll try for pictures if the weather and ducks cooperate tomorrow.

[Tyler Rother]

If I recall, most ducks go through 2 hatches, if weather is right... On my DU calender it shows many species of ducks on days with first hatch, and 2nd hatch like 2 months later. And about all hens... Not quite sure, I think  (in my opinion) all hen and drake mallards look alike when young.

Tyler

[Go Big Red!]

If I recall, most ducks go through 2 hatches, if weather is right... On my DU calender it shows many species of ducks on days with first hatch, and 2nd hatch like 2 months later. And about all hens... Not quite sure, I think  (in my opinion) all hen and drake mallards look alike when young.

Tyler

These were all hens, not a single drake in the group.  FireRanger has seen this as well when he was over not to long ago.

[FireRanger]

I do believe that all mallards look like hens when young. Once they get a little older the drake mallards I think become 'eclipse' mallards while they're appearance changes from a hens. Green head starts to appear and the wing tips change color too I believe. Not sure though . I DO know they all taste the same!!

[Tyler Rother]

They do taste the same, but we have a Hen pot, 5 bucks a hen. Then total goes to DU as a donation at the end of the season.

Prefer not to shoot hens, so if they are in fact hens, great, more for future broods!

[Go Big Red!]

I know for sure there was not a single drake in that group.

[kenhuntin]

It does take about a month for Mallard drakes to start showing their colors. It is odd to have a batch of all hens. If a hen loses a clutch they will usually try a second attempt at a nest.  There are no two hens that act alike though. My three year old captive Hen starts laying eggs as soon as the snow is gone and I think finally now she is done laying. last year she laid 41 and this year she is even past that mark. I went through this whole deal assuming we were talking about Mallards. Big Red what kind of ducks do you have there?  I just reread the part about yellow fuzz.

[PJ Maguire]

My three year old captive Hen starts laying eggs as soon as the snow is gone and I think finally now she is done laying. last year she laid 41 and this year she is even past that mark.

Do they come with toast?

[Outdoors Junkie]

I know for sure there was not a single drake in that group.

I am just starting to see the juvenile mallard drakes beginning to show signs of changing around here.

Here are some pictures of young juvenile mallard drakes.

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[corny13]

I have seen dayold ducklings of both Gadwalls and Wigeon here in ND the middle of Sept.  They will just keep renesting like pheasants if their nests are destroyed.

[Go Big Red!]

It does take about a month for Mallard drakes to start showing their colors. It is odd to have a batch of all hens. If a hen loses a clutch they will usually try a second attempt at a nest.  There are no two hens that act alike though. My three year old captive Hen starts laying eggs as soon as the snow is gone and I think finally now she is done laying. last year she laid 41 and this year she is even past that mark. I went through this whole deal assuming we were talking about Mallards. Big Red what kind of ducks do you have there?  I just reread the part about yellow fuzz.

They are Mallards.

I know for sure there was not a single drake in that group.

I am just starting to see the juvenile mallard drakes beginning to show signs of changing around here.

Here are some pictures of young juvenile mallard drakes.

Like I said before, they 're all hens.  I have seen them change from the fuzzy yellow ducklings to juvies to hens.  I have sat behind the cattails to get a closer look last night and they were all hens.

[kenhuntin]

Much to my dismay I come home tonight and go out to feed and water the Mallards and the dag gum Hen is sitting on a pile of her breast feathers with five eggs under Her. We already incubated and distributed two batches of 20 and I threw 19 randomly laid eggs out tonight. Talk about prolific. She came from Wild Wings game farm and I am sure they keep only good layers.
Anyone want some Ducks?

[kenhuntin]

The reason I questiion is that Mallard babies are not yellow. Perhaps Blackducks or Muscovy?

[Cody Gruchow]

well red just to continue to question it how exactly can you tell??? at the club we have anywere from 1600-2500 ducks. and before mid september they all look like hens, theres no way to tell them apart from what i can see until they start to color up

[HUNTER2]

I like the $5.00 a hen pot for DU. I will mention that to my hunting buddy's.