Ancona Ducks

[Amiga]

I first learned about Anconas in The Resilient Gardener and I had to have them! I have Storey's Guide to Ducks as well as Holderread's Ancona pamphlet.

As far as breeding, you might find this article helpful: http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/6/6-2/breeding_the_home_flock.html It references chickens, but it works just as well for ducks. Brother-sister matings are worse than parent-child. I am setting up three breeding pens for the spring and will follow the rolling mating system described in the article. At some point I will probably transition into spiral mating, but I'm still working on setting color and patterning.

I have not finished reading it yet, but I have read the duck chapter and really like the book. I would add the books you mention to the Duck Library Recommendation List, if there were one.

 

[ChristineR]

I first learned about Anconas in The Resilient Gardener and I had to have them! I have Storey's Guide to Ducks as well as Holderread's Ancona pamphlet.

As far as breeding, you might find this article helpful: http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/6/6-2/breeding_the_home_flock.html It references chickens, but it works just as well for ducks. Brother-sister matings are worse than parent-child. I am setting up three breeding pens for the spring and will follow the rolling mating system described in the article. At some point I will probably transition into spiral mating, but I'm still working on setting color and patterning.

That's a great article. I'll have to look into the book you mentioned, too. Is it about incorporating animals into your garden plan?

 

[harriedhomemaker]

That's a great article. I'll have to look into the book you mentioned, too. Is it about incorporating animals into your garden plan?

Some of it is. I got some great ideas about how I can use our ducks in our garden and orchard. There is one chapter specifically on ducks and duck eggs.

The book as a whole is an extremely thorough description of how to grow, store, etc. potatoes, squash, corn, and beans. It is one of my very favorite gardening books.

 

[Chicken Crazy12]

I was taking pictures of all the flocks yesterday and thought I would post pictures of the Anconas.

 

[ChristineR]

Very pretty!

 

[Goose and Fig]

Wow- mine look much different than those. They are so bright!

 

[Chicken Crazy12]

Lots of hard culling! This is the direction that my bloodline is going.

 

[toadbriar]

LOVE the speckly ducks!

 

[Goose and Fig]

I think I like more color on mine. Those almost look like a whole new breed to me.

I just love this pic from kswaterfowl- post 6: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/331992/i-hatched-out-3-ancona-ducks-new-pic-post-10

 

[Chicken Crazy12]

I've found those type of markings to be very dominate where the majority of ducklings hatch out with large color patches on their backs....... It almost became a set pattern which is not something you want on Anconas. I personally prefer spots over patches in the breed.