A good place for info on white crested ducks?

[Debby Duck]

Hi there,
I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a good site or book to learn more about this breed.
I have 6 that are 13 weeks old, and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to end up with a good ratio of male female. But I dread the thought of parting with any. So I'd like to research their mating habits, etc and if there's some way to keep my females safe and protect them from overmating. I won't try of it's just not doable, and I'm fantasizing. I just want to be certain before I separate them. They're such a little family, they stick close together, and they're all sort of quirky and weird.
I should have done more research when I ordered them. Had I known the importance of the ratio I would have paid the extra cost and bought them by sex .

BTW do all males get the curled tail? We have a muscovy drake on our lake they doesn't.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

All domestic ducks, except Muscovy, are from Mallards including White Crested. Males usually get drake curls but not always. I had a drake who didn’t get his curl one year.
Storey’s Guide to Raising Ducks mentions White Crested but more information specific to them is hard to find. I did some research on them because I have a white duck with a crest who I got as an adult from a friend. I think mine has turned out to be a Silver Swedish with a crest rather than a White Crested which is an ancient Dutch breed. Anyway, I couldn’t find much information when I looked. Duck mommy 2019 is correct. The crest is a mutation which causes a slight gap in the skull and can cause neurological problems. It is supposed to be a dominant trait and only birds who are heterozygous (one Crested allele) are supposed to live. Statistically then, if you breed two Crested ducks 1/4 of the offspring die, 1/2 have crests, and 1/4 do not. I say supposedly because I have not gotten any crested ducklings from my duck crossed with a non-crested drake (1/2 should have had crests). As for mating you need to have your ratio correct or you risk your females being injured or killed. I tried keeping two drakes with four girls and it ended badly. You really don’t want to go there. I have read that drakes sometimes grab the crest, which would be really bad, but mine does not. He does have five other girls to choose from though. I hope this helps you. Good luck! This is my girl.

 

[Debby Duck]

if you have just one crested girl and make sure she is monitored daily, it’ll be fine. but all the girls being crested won’t work with a drake

Hi, thanks for the info! I'm copying my reply to Duck mommy. I don't know if you saw this or if you might knows the answers to some of my questions:
I actually know about the genetic issue. So I decided not to have them mate at all. No babies. I want to know though, how long are they inheat? Can I tell? And if they stay close to home, as they do now where I can watch them, is separating them at night enough? Right now they never go far from the yard. I don't know if that'll change as they get older. I read that some breeds don't roam far.

YOUR GIRL IS BEAUTIFUL! I came across a picture of one of these with the black bill recently. What a pretty duck!

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Thanks for you response. I actually know about the genetic issue. So I decided not to have them mate at all. No babies. I want to know though, how long are they inheat? Can I tell? And if they stay close to home, as they do now where I can watch them, is separating them at night enough?

Right now they don't want do go in the lake beyond wading, they spend most of their time in our yard. I don't know if that will change. Which is another question I had. I heard some breeds tend to do that.

they don’t really go in season. they’ll mate more in the spring but usually continue (just less) in the winter months. you can make two coops if you’d like, and keep the boys together and the girls together.

 

[Debby Duck]

mine are super sweet and cuddly. when they are “teenagers” they always go through a stage where they don’t wanna be picked up or anything though. drakes are the best, my boys have gotten even more cuddly as they’ve gotten older

Yay! There's hope! I think in their own way they're close to us. If I sit on the ground and let them do their own thing they'll crawl up on me a little, get in my face, always looking for a hat string, or pant strings to pull on. If I reach out to pet them they back up, so I'm happy to accept them or their terms. Of course they also follow us everywhere and seem happy to see us when we come out. That may be for the treats tho .

Appreciate your thoughts

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

I haven't had imprinted ducks, so I'm just assuming this, but I think imprinted ducks might be the only ducks that are cuddly and want to be touched. @Duck mommy 2019 your ducks are imprinted on you, right

yes all of my ducks are imprinted to me. they do seem to like cuddles more with humans than they do with other ducks (i don’t think i’ve seen mine cuddle with each other, unless being held by someone, since they’ve grown up)

 

[Debby Duck]

I have a crested pekin. She's a delightful duck that my life revolves around. She was abandoned on a pond and I adopted her at about 1-1.5 years of age - but we don't really know. It was spring, she was already laying, the vet said she was young. She was incredibly afraid of me at first. I've had her for over 5 years, and she loves me as much as a non imprinted duck can - I believe. She's delightful. She comes when I call. We have conversations in quack. She head bobs when she sees me coming to the aviary. She loves to be very near me, but doesn't enjoy being touched. I'm not offended by this. Since becoming adults my ducks don't even touch each other, unless they are very cold or mating.

I haven't had imprinted ducks, so I'm just assuming this, but I think imprinted ducks might be the only ducks that are cuddly and want to be touched. @Duck mommy 2019 your ducks are imprinted on you, right? My ducks tolerate being touched sometimes, and in some places on their bodies. Tolerate is key. So I don't push it. And sometimes they touch me. Mostly I just enjoy what they naturally offer me. And when I want to cuddle I go inside and scoop up my cat.

There are ways I have found to make my ducks more comfortable with me. It isn't unique to ducks, I've used it with feral cats, too. Basically let your ducks teach you what is scary to them and then avoid doing it. My ducks didn't like it when I walked directly at them. So I walked in huge circles around them. My ducks don't like being startled. So I always talk as I approach them. If it makes your ducks run away or jump or act uncomfortable don't do it. Then spend a lot of time with them being low to the ground. Try not to look directly at them, as predators stare at their prey before attacking. Instead look near them and see them in your peripheral vision. Sit on a blanket and read a book. Do some knitting. Garden with them. Be there but don't focus on them. And, get them to associate you with delicious things! When they see you coming you want them to think, "oh yay here comes the person who brings yummy!" They might never snuggle you, but you can develop a very special close relationship with them.

A lot of good suggestions. It sounds like you've got a sweet unique relationship with your duck. I suppose most do when it comes to that. Our ducks have bonded with us, but I would say they've imprinted on each other. They cuddle together a lot. And boy, I have to be very careful around them. Any new object will scare them, or if I lift something and I'm near them they'll scatter. I really have to focus to remember this too.
It's funny, a few of them actually will look me right in the eyes and up close when we're on the ground together. They get up close to pull on my hat strap under my chin, collar, buttons etc. Since I figured out they like those things I make it a point to wear them. They like to nip at my glasses too. This is when we have our little chats. I always wonder what they're thinking when we do that and I can tell they're staring at my mouth sometimes as I talk. Which means they're about to go for my lip! It's always a gentle nip though anytime they do that which amazes me.
So even though they don't want to be picked up, we get an enormous amount of joy from them. They follow us, jump up quacking when we come out and sit by us while we're there. They have their own way of being affectionate and we accept that. I'll be heartbroken when I have to give up my 2girls which looks like the case.

 

[Debby Duck]

Aww, they sound very precious and sweet. The ones I got as tiny babies were just like that, even though I spent tons of time with them. They still imprinted on each other. My ducks got less jumpy over time. I imagine yours will, too. Many people here comment on their ducks going through a fearful teenage period.

I understand about the heart break. I hope you can find a way to keep them, or that you find a wonderful family for them.

Fingers crossed on both thoughts . Thanks!

 

[Debby Duck]

I have a crested pekin. She's a delightful duck that my life revolves around. She was abandoned on a pond and I adopted her at about 1-1.5 years of age - but we don't really know. It was spring, she was already laying, the vet said she was young. She was incredibly afraid of me at first. I've had her for over 5 years, and she loves me as much as a non imprinted duck can - I believe. She's delightful. She comes when I call. We have conversations in quack. She head bobs when she sees me coming to the aviary. She loves to be very near me, but doesn't enjoy being touched. I'm not offended by this. Since becoming adults my ducks don't even touch each other, unless they are very cold or mating.

I haven't had imprinted ducks, so I'm just assuming this, but I think imprinted ducks might be the only ducks that are cuddly and want to be touched. @Duck mommy 2019 your ducks are imprinted on you, right? My ducks tolerate being touched sometimes, and in some places on their bodies. Tolerate is key. So I don't push it. And sometimes they touch me. Mostly I just enjoy what they naturally offer me. And when I want to cuddle I go inside and scoop up my cat.

There are ways I have found to make my ducks more comfortable with me. It isn't unique to ducks, I've used it with feral cats, too. Basically let your ducks teach you what is scary to them and then avoid doing it. My ducks didn't like it when I walked directly at them. So I walked in huge circles around them. My ducks don't like being startled. So I always talk as I approach them. If it makes your ducks run away or jump or act uncomfortable don't do it. Then spend a lot of time with them being low to the ground. Try not to look directly at them, as predators stare at their prey before attacking. Instead look near them and see them in your peripheral vision. Sit on a blanket and read a book. Do some knitting. Garden with them. Be there but don't focus on them. And, get them to associate you with delicious things! When they see you coming you want them to think, "oh yay here comes the person who brings yummy!" They might never snuggle you, but you can develop a very special close relationship with them.

She's got a sweet little face your Pekin!

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

hi, i know a lot about crested ducks. it’s actually a very bad genetic issue. please COMPLETE seperate the drakes and hens so they cannot try to mate, hatch eggs or anything else. sadly most of the babies will die while hatching and the others risk genetic issues as well. and the crests are a gap in their skull, so even mating could kill the girls (drakes grab on to the girls head when mating)