How can you distinguish an Indoor from a drake, gender determination and the difference
Well-organized poultry care is the key to a healthy flock. Breeders know that caring for male and female musk ducks is quite different. But even experienced owners cannot always give a clear answer to the question of how to distinguish a drake from an Indoor. Let's figure out the intricacies of the dissimilarity of birds introduced to the territory of Russia relatively recently - just 40 years ago.
Obvious differences between adult female and male
The first difference that catches your eye is the color of the plumage. In females, it is much dimmer than in the stronger sex. Drakes have a brighter color, a massive head with a tuft.
Signs that will help distinguish an Indoor from a drake:
| Differences | Male | Female |
| Tail | Twisted up | Absolutely flat |
| Plumage | Feathers and down are fully developed by 3 months of age | The feather cover is formed gradually |
| Beak | Massive, triangle-shaped. A rough hump forms above the beak | Soft pink skin color above the beak |
| Mass of an adult domesticated individual, kg | 4,6-6,8 | 2,7-3,6 |
| Torso | Powerful, with strong massive legs | Narrow |
It is very difficult for a beginner to determine the gender of musk ducks. In addition to the above points, the birds are distinguished by their demeanor. The ideal poultry ratio is 4: 1. If the proportion is not met, females in the herd will behave like males, or vice versa.
How to determine the gender of the Indoor
From the first days after birth, it is very difficult to determine the sex of the young. 4 ways to divide the young in the herd into "girls" and "boys":
- By behavior. The most pugnacious and cocky duckling is the dominant male in the future. Having watched him, the owner will see whom he does not admit to the trough, towards whom he is showing aggression - these are competitors.
- Outwardly. The male chicks have a larger head than the girls. As the young grow, it will become easier to distinguish a duck from a drake. The plumage of future males is several shades darker.
- By gender. It makes it possible to determine the sex of a duckling one 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, the girl will open spherical growths.
- By voice. This method allows you to distinguish a muscovy duck already at the age of one month - it quacks, while the drake makes hissing sounds with a hissing sound. This feature is explained by the presence of a saccular expansion in the trachea fork in the "guys".
The weight of the stronger sex in adulthood is 2 times the weight of females. The male has a more powerful neck bend and a massive body. In addition, boys have strong immunity, they are less likely to be vaccinated than ducks.
Other nuances and interesting surprises
Poultry breeders who have been breeding ducks for several years share the secrets and tricks of sex determination: if a threat arises, the duck will run away and hide, and the drake, on the contrary, will rush into battle. To intimidate the opponent, he will raise the crest. Representatives of the stronger sex let girls go forward, they themselves keep behind.
In preparation for breeding, ducks prepare for the appearance of offspring: they take a liking to and equip nests. Therefore, if you observe them for some time, it immediately becomes noticeable to which sex the individual belongs.
