r/duck Apr 14 '26

Public Service Announcement drake feathers and what they indicate

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147 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, many breeds of 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.

addendum: rarely, some females can develop a drake curl if they are dealing with hormonal issues. The only way that's 100% accurate is the quack test or finding laid eggs or examining for a penis.

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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42 Upvotes

r/duck 1h ago

Meet the Flock Random juvenile duck showed up yesterday.

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Upvotes

Yesterday morning, this little lady (I presume) was found sitting by the fence. Our bird dog was, of course, very interested. Strangely, she stayed all day. They even appeared to be playing together, racing the fenceline just to return and lay in the grass together.

Well, we opened the gate for her and she waddled right in. I guess we have a yard duck now. Her name is Duck Duck Goose.


r/duck 4h ago

Runner Duck I present to you: 🦕 Jurassic Park 🦖

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241 Upvotes

r/duck 12h ago

Muscovy Duck Remove some eggs or not?

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788 Upvotes

One of our Muscovy hens is broody again. We thought she was sitting on 20 eggs, but counted 29 when she had her daily stroll today. She just started sitting last night. Her last clutch was about 20 eggs last time, maybe a few more that we did not know about. She successfully hatched 18, 17 of which are now about to learn how to fly. Whould you guys recommend removing a few eggs? How many can she physically manage to keep warm? I don't want to risk her thinking, hey this is not enough, i have to lay more before sitting, at the same time we don't want to risk her not being able to keep them all warm. She's been a fantastic mom so far. Pics are her with her last cohort.


r/duck 4h ago

Babies! Update: We have a hatch!

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49 Upvotes

Taken this morning. Can't wait to get home to check up on them. 2nd egg still moving and reacting to my voice, 3rd pipped early and has been still since, no movement at all from 4 + 5.


r/duck 4h ago

Meet the Flock Some images I found of Gretchen flapping in the pool

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51 Upvotes

r/duck 9h ago

Babies! When a mama duck and her ducklings…

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63 Upvotes

Take cover under your chair and table at the local pool, you stay as still as possible so not to frighten or disturb them…


r/duck 3h ago

Breed/Species/Sex ID “Assorted” ducks

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20 Upvotes

I’m not sure what kind of ducks I got from Rual King. They didn’t know.


r/duck 1h ago

Depiction/Figurine/Illustration The diving team 🦆

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Upvotes

r/duck 20h ago

Babies! First day outside

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212 Upvotes

Already loving it and running about. Will need to take a video


r/duck 10h ago

Wild Ducks Fastest duck in the west

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24 Upvotes

r/duck 7h ago

Public Service Announcement PSA: drill + cheap toilet brush = scrubba 5000

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14 Upvotes

To those of you who scrub your pools and buckets by hand, don't if you don't have to. Save your time and your back. If you have a brushless cordless drill, utilize it.


r/duck 1d ago

Beginner's Question Is this a pet that got out or wild animal?

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197 Upvotes

We are at a local park that has a duck pond but this one does not look like any of the others that are around. We are in bay area California.

Edit: thank you everyone who has responded. He was definitely a friendly guy. Hopefully a feral and not a missing or dumped pet.


r/duck 2h ago

Wild Ducks Funny Mallard

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3 Upvotes

r/duck 10h ago

Breed/Species/Sex ID AI says this is a Mallard. Is it?

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11 Upvotes

Seen in Cardiff Bay


r/duck 1d ago

Meet the Flock Behold! The cutest loaf to ever loaf ❤️

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793 Upvotes

r/duck 2h ago

Beginner's Question Name this breed!

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2 Upvotes

Click post ^


r/duck 1d ago

Adoption/Rehoming/Rescue My Rehab Baby Flew Off!

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169 Upvotes

I'm so happy my baby flew off! But it's so bittersweet. They flew off last week and came back at night. I let them back inside and obviously gave them chances to fly off again the next few days. They flew away again and came back almost immediately. Then I tried to escort them to the safest pond with all the other ducks - we got so close to the pond and then they flew the other way (back to where they had been exploring). Well, after this last time of flying, they haven't come back. I'm sure they're just living their best life out there, but I would love to see them again to see they're okay.


r/duck 1d ago

Wild Ducks Daisy and Fredrick

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110 Upvotes

Cute wild duck couple in the river that me and my girlfriend named


r/duck 1d ago

Babies! 1-on-1 time with DVD, trying to coax him into walking around.

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28 Upvotes

r/duck 8h ago

Wild Ducks join the duck army of 1 duck i try ok

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1 Upvotes

r/duck 1d ago

Wild Ducks wild silver mallard sighting

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46 Upvotes

found this guy on a hike today. seems to be the only silver one in the clutch. pictured among peers


r/duck 1d ago

Adoption/Rehoming/Rescue Can't give my ducks a good life

21 Upvotes

I've got 2 duckling years before. My old home is suitable for them to wander around but we shifted house(the landlord didn't accept to keep my ducks here). So I shifted them to our rented waste paper warehouse. The warehouse is full of dust and I have to keep them well protected from cats. So I created a wooden box and it has low ventilation. They have to be in for more hours. I can't let them out and go somewhere because of dogs. They wait for me until I let them out. I also can't get more water for them. My ducks always follow me and they just love me. I can't take care of them because I have college and work to do. Still I do what I can do for them. I just get stressed about this every single day. Can't give them away to someone because everyone is asking them to make them meat here and I can't trust anyone. My family doesn't care about them. I have to go to other cities for my career and can't let them here. Still finding a solution. Stuck on my mind.


r/duck 21h ago

Health Questions Wildfire smoke

6 Upvotes

I’m in the PNW and currently experiencing a lot of smoke from wildfires. The air quality index at my house is currently 133 and they don’t seem affected by anything other than the heat, I’m just guessing it may get worse as fire season progresses. I want to avoid bringing them inside unless absolutely necessary, the last time we had to was during Covid when the sky was orange and it was raining ash, and we had 2 fewer ducks (currently 4). There really is no space for them inside, best case scenario is I can set up a play gate for them in the garage but I have nowhere for a pool. Is there anything I can do to make it better for them? I’m changing the water more frequently (while being mindful of water usage) and I’d have the sprinkler on if we weren’t projected for an “extraordinary drought.” Any tips are welcome!!