Ancona Ducks

[ChristineR]

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The person I'm getting mine from got hers from worth it farms 2 years ago. But since I don't want to breed brothers to sisters if I can avoid it I wanted to get them from two sources.

I see. Somehow I missed that you had found some.

 

[ckoop7]

Does anyone know the offspring possibilities of a black drake with lavender, blue, lilac and chocolate hens?

 

[SilkieSensation]

In my opinion, I don't think you have all pure anconas. The two heavily marked ones on the right do not look to be anconas at all.

The other two, possibly. Can you get better side pics of them? That would help determine body carriage, spotting, chest marks, feet and bill marks, etc 

Very pretty birds!

Well they aren't mine, I am getting some pure breed anconas that I know for sure are good quality but I was wanting to add another line in with them so they wouldn't all be related and this lady lives close to me, I was pretty sure they didn't look pure ancona but I wanted to double check with everyone on here first, so much for convenience thanks so much. There just no one around me that has them and I am getting 15 ducklings in about a month and I was hoping that I could get a few more from someone else. Ohh well.

My girls are laying. I ship eggs if interested.

Does anyone know the offspring possibilities of a black drake with lavender, blue, lilac and chocolate hens?

If the black drake is not carrying another color you will get all black babies split to the colors of the hens. Those colors will then show back up in the next generation. If the drake is a split you should get 50% black, 25% whatever he is split to & 25% the colors of the hens combined.

 

[Alice28]

Hey all. I'm getting two or three Ancona ducklings at the end of April (so excited!) and wanted to ask if two or three would be best? My aunt has chickens and every batch there seems to be one that doesn't make it. I know ducks are social so I'm worried that if I only get two and one doesn't make it that I will have one lonely duck until I can get another. My husband and I are debating two or three and I am just wondering if ducklings seem to do better then chicks or not? Don't want any sad ducks

 

[ckoop7]

Hey all. I'm getting two or three Ancona ducklings at the end of April (so excited!) and wanted to ask if two or three would be best? My aunt has chickens and every batch there seems to be one that doesn't make it. I know ducks are social so I'm worried that if I only get two and one doesn't make it that I will have one lonely duck until I can get another. My husband and I are debating two or three and I am just wondering if ducklings seem to do better then chicks or not? Don't want any sad ducks

In my experience ducklings are hardier than chicks. There is always a chance that one may not make it for various reasons. I have only ever hatched 1 that didn't make it due to a traumatic hatching but otherwise they have all been very hardy. If you don't mind ending up with 3 I would get three just to be on the safe side and it may put your mind at ease to get three, if in the end they all make it and you don't want three sell the other one to someone with an existing flock.

 

[Alice28]

In my experience ducklings are hardier than chicks. There is always a chance that one may not make it for various reasons. I have only ever hatched 1 that didn't make it due to a traumatic hatching but otherwise they have all been very hardy. If you don't mind ending up with 3 I would get three just to be on the safe side and it may put your mind at ease to get three, if in the end they all make it and you don't want three sell the other one to someone with an existing flock.

Ok thank you for the response. I just can't wait to look out back and see my ducks.

 

[ckoop7]

Ok thank you for the response. I just can't wait to look out back and see my ducks.

It will definitely put a smile on your face, I have 15 new ducklings coming in on the 16th of April and I can't wait

 

[DaisyMeadow]

Hey all. I'm getting two or three Ancona ducklings at the end of April (so excited!) and wanted to ask if two or three would be best? My aunt has chickens and every batch there seems to be one that doesn't make it. I know ducks are social so I'm worried that if I only get two and one doesn't make it that I will have one lonely duck until I can get another. My husband and I are debating two or three and I am just wondering if ducklings seem to do better then chicks or not? Don't want any sad ducks

Three will be just as stinky and messy as 2. So I say the more, the merrier. Unless you have a tiny yard, I doubt you'll regret getting that third duck. Also, do you know what genders? That may be a factor, too.

 

[wildsam]

Definitely would go for 3 also. Just be aware that once you start having ducklings, you will most likely get hooked and want more... and more... and more... despite the mess they make! They're simply too funny and adorable and so worth it!
Of course they're hardier than chickens, with as little diseases they can actually succumb to. We keep our together and the chickens don't leave their side anymore, at times even trying to claim the duckhouse as nesting box! lol

 

[SilkieSensation]

Hey all. I'm getting two or three Ancona ducklings at the end of April (so excited!) and wanted to ask if two or three would be best? My aunt has chickens and every batch there seems to be one that doesn't make it. I know ducks are social so I'm worried that if I only get two and one doesn't make it that I will have one lonely duck until I can get another. My husband and I are debating two or three and I am just wondering if ducklings seem to do better then chicks or not? Don't want any sad ducks

I vote 6...lol
Always get twice as many as you actually want because (unless you can sex them) you will end up with all drakes & no ducks. You can always rehome spare boys later.