2 new Aylesbury girls, how do i introduce them to existing flock?

[mrpekinduck]

Aww good! It looks more like a pekin then aylesbury though. Aylesburies have pink bills. If u could post a picture of the body we could see for sure.
HollyDuckFarmer: the coloration of the ducks is not why they are in that order. It's the size, disposition, temperament, etc. Pekins tend to be shy and easily bullied by small ducks. Tis is probably the case for you as well. You can add more ducks if you would like but it will likely put another duck in the same position as your current pekin. Also, the neck biting etc. can be signs of courtship with ducks, not bullying. My buff boy often bites the necks of my hens in an attempt to court them and get them to let him mate them. The females will also chase other females away from their mate as a sign of ownership over him and makes will do the same to other males attempting to court their females. This could be the case. Does e pekin have a mate or is she attempting to steal another hens or group of hens drake?

 

[LizzieJ]

Hi ive never heard of aylesburys with pink bills every aylesbury ive ever seen or had contact with has had a bright yellow bill.................she definatly isnt a pekin she is far too big for that! Even my research in books/internet/reference with farmers etc says aylesburys have bright yellow/orange bills and feet.

i dont know if you are in the states or if there is a different strain over there but i can assure you she is an aylesbury!

 

[duckyfromoz]

She may be part Aylesbury- but in the standards for the breed - the feet and legs are orange and the bill and skin are pink. It one of the most defining features about the breed apart from their size. Because the are very rare- often they are crossed with a pekin or white rouen to increase vigor in the bloodlines- and this is where the bill colour issue is most apparent.

There are some slight differences in the standards between countries - but not with the Aylesbury.

Here are some interesting pictures / websites for you.

First a true Aylesbury form the UK where the breed originated.

http://www.domestic-waterfowl.co.uk/ayls.htm

And the Uk version of a pekin

http://www.domestic-waterfowl.co.uk/pekin.htm

Aylesbury information from the USA- the main photo shows a bird with an orange bill- and yet the description in the texts clearly says- pink billed.

http://albc-usa.org/cpl/waterfowl/aylesbury.html

 

[LizzieJ]

Thanks for the links they are providing some interesting reading, Daisy and Donald (my only ayelsburys and from different breeders here in wales) both have bright yellow feet and bills although Daisys bill is alot more pale than Donalds, their feathers are pure white with a pinkish tint to them, posting some pics of both below

Daisy 20weeks
Daisy 20 weeks



And here is her husband our beloved Donald




Both fit with what is generally seen as standard aylesbury here, but if they are pekin crosses i dont mind they are still my babies

 

[mrpekinduck]

Those are definitely Pekins. Atlesburies have a keel. They could be jumbo Pekins but definitely not aylesburies, sorry!

 

[mrpekinduck]

Sorry those aren't ayles buries. They don't have a keel. Those are definitely Pekins or jumbo Pekins. Here look at this link, it's from the uk as well, http://www.aylesburyducks.co.uk/

 

[LizzieJ]

They probably arent true Aylesburys but i think they are the ones that have been bred for meat here in the UK. Either way my Donald and Daisy are my babies and i think i will continue to call them aylesburys because thats what they are recognised as here. According to the research you sent its very rare to find true aylesburys now anyway and they are far too big to be what i know as pekins......................................One thing is for sure, they are ducks lol!