Perhaps an unusual question, and I need to elaborate. First - I'm used to chickens, but new to ducks. I've looked up as much info as I could, over a great period of time, before purchase, including individual duck "behavior". However, I never thought about a combined difference in behavior between a standard breed and a runner.
I took advantage of a "Hatchery Choice" special through Ideal Poultry - the savings bringing the minimum order of "20 ducks" to $1.95 each...not bad, and a good way(or chance) to test a few breeds to see what my family and I like. At the time of the special, other specials were: Blue Swedish, Buffs, White Pekin, Black and White Magpie, and Fawn and White Indian runners(Plus "French Guineas", in which I ordered two). I've wanted Blue Swedish, for sure, for a very long time, but also wanted to try another breed, and just had a hard time narrowing it down to what I wanted the most - making an assortment special a good way to sample. Along with ordering the assortment, I thought that since they are hatching Blue Swedish, I had a fair chance of getting at least a couple. When I ordered, I put in the notes that I understand "Straight Run" and how it works. I simply "kindly" asked that if it was possible, to include at least a couple of Blues. Well(ha ha!), not one Blue Swedish, but I DID get one Black Swedish(crested), and in which Ideal DOES explain that "any variety of Blues Swedish may include Black or Splash chicks". I also received one Black and White Magpie, what looks to be at least 3 or 4 Pekin, and the rest of the numbers seem to be all Runners(Ordered 20 ducks and 2 French Guineas. Received 2 extra ducks, one died on day one). At first, the "yellowish" ducklings were hard to identify, considering a few breeds look yellowish at first. The fast growth after the first week made it easy to identify the Pekins. The Swedish and Magpie, of course, were super obvious: Pure Black with slight yellowish white belly on the Swedish, and the Magpie markings reminiscent of a dairy cow. The rest of the bunch? I was scratching my head till the end of week two. I thought, both F & W Runners and Buffs look slightly similar after hatching. Looking for the "penguin" or "wine bottle" stance is almost irrelevant within the first week and a half, because when you are taller and looking down on all of these little ones at feeding time - THEY ALL LOOK LIKE RUNNERS, standing "atten-hut" for you to lower in their din-din. Start of week three, it is obvious - everyone else(majority) is a Runner.
Now, with that said, and with the question at hand - will the other breeds always do as the Runners do? I understand it's part of a Runner Ducks behavior to, well...run, even panic. I just don't know, being new to ducks, if it's common for ALL duck breeds to be so frantic or if one will run just because the others are running. I did read in one other forum that a Magpie can have the frantic behavior of the Runner sometimes. If the Pekins, Swedes, or maybe the Magpie were raised separately, would I experience a different response? The first week - EVERYONE was happy to see me, and would come running to my hand - even crawl into it and nestle down. Much different now, and I promise it seemed, at first, like the non-runner breeds would stop in the middle of the "He's here! Everybody huddle in the corner!" frenzy and give a look like, "What are we running from again?"(especially with the two guineas...funny really), but here at the start of week three, every duckling seems so "freaked out" at my initial appearance. They are more than happy to have their refill of water or food, but mind their distance until I take at least a step back. I can stand there all day, but if I move - everyone gets noisy and dogpiles in the corner. Some I can hold for at least 5 mins before they calm down and realize I'm not going to hurt them.
Note: This does not change my mind at all, or make me want to get rid of any ducks. This is not an "anti Runner Duck" thread. I love them all to pieces, and love the variety, but I just need to make sure that I am not being too hard on myself. Is this ALL ducks, or is it a "I'll do as you do" trait with mixed personalities? Thanks for reading!
I took advantage of a "Hatchery Choice" special through Ideal Poultry - the savings bringing the minimum order of "20 ducks" to $1.95 each...not bad, and a good way(or chance) to test a few breeds to see what my family and I like. At the time of the special, other specials were: Blue Swedish, Buffs, White Pekin, Black and White Magpie, and Fawn and White Indian runners(Plus "French Guineas", in which I ordered two). I've wanted Blue Swedish, for sure, for a very long time, but also wanted to try another breed, and just had a hard time narrowing it down to what I wanted the most - making an assortment special a good way to sample. Along with ordering the assortment, I thought that since they are hatching Blue Swedish, I had a fair chance of getting at least a couple. When I ordered, I put in the notes that I understand "Straight Run" and how it works. I simply "kindly" asked that if it was possible, to include at least a couple of Blues. Well(ha ha!), not one Blue Swedish, but I DID get one Black Swedish(crested), and in which Ideal DOES explain that "any variety of Blues Swedish may include Black or Splash chicks". I also received one Black and White Magpie, what looks to be at least 3 or 4 Pekin, and the rest of the numbers seem to be all Runners(Ordered 20 ducks and 2 French Guineas. Received 2 extra ducks, one died on day one). At first, the "yellowish" ducklings were hard to identify, considering a few breeds look yellowish at first. The fast growth after the first week made it easy to identify the Pekins. The Swedish and Magpie, of course, were super obvious: Pure Black with slight yellowish white belly on the Swedish, and the Magpie markings reminiscent of a dairy cow. The rest of the bunch? I was scratching my head till the end of week two. I thought, both F & W Runners and Buffs look slightly similar after hatching. Looking for the "penguin" or "wine bottle" stance is almost irrelevant within the first week and a half, because when you are taller and looking down on all of these little ones at feeding time - THEY ALL LOOK LIKE RUNNERS, standing "atten-hut" for you to lower in their din-din. Start of week three, it is obvious - everyone else(majority) is a Runner.
Now, with that said, and with the question at hand - will the other breeds always do as the Runners do? I understand it's part of a Runner Ducks behavior to, well...run, even panic. I just don't know, being new to ducks, if it's common for ALL duck breeds to be so frantic or if one will run just because the others are running. I did read in one other forum that a Magpie can have the frantic behavior of the Runner sometimes. If the Pekins, Swedes, or maybe the Magpie were raised separately, would I experience a different response? The first week - EVERYONE was happy to see me, and would come running to my hand - even crawl into it and nestle down. Much different now, and I promise it seemed, at first, like the non-runner breeds would stop in the middle of the "He's here! Everybody huddle in the corner!" frenzy and give a look like, "What are we running from again?"(especially with the two guineas...funny really), but here at the start of week three, every duckling seems so "freaked out" at my initial appearance. They are more than happy to have their refill of water or food, but mind their distance until I take at least a step back. I can stand there all day, but if I move - everyone gets noisy and dogpiles in the corner. Some I can hold for at least 5 mins before they calm down and realize I'm not going to hurt them.
Note: This does not change my mind at all, or make me want to get rid of any ducks. This is not an "anti Runner Duck" thread. I love them all to pieces, and love the variety, but I just need to make sure that I am not being too hard on myself. Is this ALL ducks, or is it a "I'll do as you do" trait with mixed personalities? Thanks for reading!
