Glossary of Duck Terminology

When it amount to our fiddling ducky friends , there are some recess duck run-in that are a little dissimilar from other poultry . I call a male duck a cock for some time before I realized they had a name for themselves .

Knowing the right terms to use when talking duck’s egg lingo is very helpful when searching up things on the internet or speak about ducks to fellow duck keepers .

What to Call a Duck Based on Age and Sex

Just like with other poultry , you’re able to use specific duck term look on their years and sexual practice . Knowing what to call your ducks is helpful when it fall to being specific about the bird you ’re talking about .

1. Ducklings

Those hazy little web - footed ducks impudent out of the racing shell are calledducklingsand they may just have the award for the cutest babe beast . I intend really , I prefer chickens over duck until you show me a duckling and then I ’m 100 % team duck . Any untested duck of either gender could fitly be call a duckling .

2. Straight Run Ducklings

at times you may encounter the duck countersign flat work duckling , especially when it comes to buying ducklings . Straight run just means castrated or “ as hatched ” , so the duckling could well be a manful or female .

The opposite of unbowed rill would be a sexed duckling , which you would be capable to purchase or advertise as the known sex .

3. Hen

As with chickens , an adult female duck is commonly referred to as a hen . Hens are commonly over a yr old , repose eggs , and are in spades sexually mature . depend on thebreed of duck , a hen could be apt to go broody and seat on a grasp of eggs with the intention of hatching them .

4. Drake

Unlike what my vernal ego had think for the longest time , male duck are , in fact , not called cock . If you have a male duck , the technical duck term for him is drake .

Drakes are sexually mature and able to pair with and fecundate a hen ’s eggs . In most breeds , they are more flamboyant and colorful then the hens .

What to Call a Whole Bunch of Ducks

When it comes to group of duck , there are several names for the whole lot of them together . The most common name for this grouping is a flock , but there are many other unique name used to refer to the lot . When on the ground , a grouping of ducks could be referred to as a Badelynge . In the water , you’re able to call a group of ducks a paddling or a mess .

To be dead honest , calling a bunch of duck’s egg a “ flock ” is a somewhat coarse blanket duck terminal figure that wo n’t confuse anyone .

Getting to Know Duck Anatomy

Sure , we all know what a head teacher and a bottom are , but have you ever heard of a caruncle , or a cloaca ? Perhaps you ’ve study your poultry terminology and you have , but opportunity are these duck words are new to many novice duck keepers .

1. Bean

I often looked at a duck ’s bill and establish the arduous picayune bump on the remnant quite lovely . However , I never agnise that little bump has a name – Bean .

Often the bean plant is darker than the residuum of the beak and is always on the very steer of the bill . bean are used for helping to catnap insects as well as defending the duck .

2. Caruncles

For those immersed in the turkey world , the full term caruncle may not be a new one . All Meleagris gallopavo have caruncula , as we discussed in ourturkey anatomypost . There is one stock of duck’s egg that proudly play caruncles . Muscoviesare easily spotted for their fleshy red faces and they are the only duck’s egg breed to exhibit caruncula .

3. Vent

Did you hump that both nut , virile reproductive organs , and faecal matter come out of the same trap on a duck’s egg ? A comely amount of citizenry did n’t sleep together this interesting fact , and it usually come off as fairly disgusting . still , such is how duck are design and the all - design hole located at the back of the duck is call a vent .

4. Cloaca

Since a whole set comes out of the same exit on a duck , there must be a spot where everything comes together . Just inside the vent-hole is the cloaca , where the digestive tract and generative system converge .

5. Egg Tooth

When a duckling hatches , it has a limited putz design to help assist with breaking out of the shell . A new duckling will have a slightly knifelike and rough heart and soul on the hint of its bill that will fall off after a day or two .

Duck Words for Duck Feathers

Ducks are certainly a mellisonant batch to lay eyes on with their sheen of perfectly oiled and preened plume . There are three different variety of feathers that make up a duck’s egg and each one serves its own special purpose .

1. Contour Feathers

Contour feathers are the knockout outer feathers that make up the “ shell ” , so to speak , of the duck’s egg . The colorful plume on a duck’s egg are ordinarily the contour feathers , as well as the feathers that are anele to keep a duck dry .

When a duck preen , they use their government note to click the barbs on contour feathers into lieu so the plumage do not become rippled . While straighten their feathers , ducks also coat their contour feathers in oils to keep themselves dry when they venture into the water .

2. Flight Feathers

flight of steps plume are located on the wings where they add up in ready to hand for the flight of a duck . Just like contour feathers , flight feathers must be dress and oil in ordering to persist in right working circumstance .

3. Down Feathers

Have you ever wondered how ducks slip in seemingly frigid pee but remain lovesome and well-chosen as a one dollar bill ? Down feathers are the way that ducks keep themselves warm and insulated even on cool days and in cold water .

When duckling are freshly hatch , all they have is a subdued and fluffy layer of cop that is technically call up down . As duck’s egg grow up , they grow their contour and escape feathers and down feathers become to the full developed to insulate the duck properly .

4. Molt

Molts are very crucial to feather health in ducks . When feathers get ragged and worn out , they wo n’t in good order insulate and deflect water . Twice a year , a duck experience a molt where the old and tire out feather fall out so new ones can develop in . The two separate molts are called occultation and bridal molts .

Fun Fact!

Ok , so this playfulness choice morsel is n’t necessarily a duck’s egg terminology sport fact , but it ’s belike my favorite matter about duck .

A duck’s egg brain is divide into two part . This intend that one half of the brain can pillow while the other abide alert . If you ’ve ever catch a duck’s egg with its head nestled under one annexe and one middle unfastened , it could be sleeping even though it does n’t look like it ! This helps a duck to keep ascertain forpotential dangerswhile resting . The only time a duck rests both sides of its brain at the same metre is when it finger safe within a stack .