Anyway to explain duck colors, breeding, ect?

[happy duck]

I read story guide to raising ducks....great book and highly recommend it...but I was lost when it started talking about hybrids, colors(genetics, plumage alleles), faults in breeds, exhibitation ducks, standerd bred, and anything in between. Having a mind set of wanting to hatch ducks some day I really need a better explanation of this stuff. I want to hatch ducks that are of pure-breed and that carry the kind of characteristics of that breed(color and profile). I know my Q's don't narrow down but if there is an article that you could link me to or anything would be so so helpful. Thanks in advance!

 

[Cyprus]

@WVduckchick Is very knowledgeable with ducks and their genetics.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Pyxis also

 

[Amer]

X2 Pyxis knows a lot about ducks. This isn't about breeding to a standard, but covers basic duck genetics:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mallard-derived-duck-color-genetics-basics.74277/

 

[happy duck]

Thanks tons!

 

[Pyxis]

Happy to answer any genetics questions

Breeding to the Standard is about selecting the ducks you have that are the ones that most closely match the Standard, and breeding those together and culling out the ones that aren't as good examples.

It's also good to look for ones that compliment each other. As an example, maybe you have a female Call with a really great head but her beak is a little too long. But you have a male whose beak is very short, but his head isn't quite as good as the female's. You breed those two together in the hopes that you'll get offspring that get the nice head from mom and the shorter beak from Dad.

 

[WVduckchick]

@Pyxis is definitely better with specific duck genetics.

I’d just like to add as far as your comment about hybrids, that probably is in reference to crossing breeds, such as mating a mallard with a Rouen, or a khaki Campbell with a welsh harlequin, etc. If you plan to actually breed to standards, obviously you should only mate the same breeds together. Pick one, or however many you have room to keep separated, and work from there. Many backyard duck keepers like a variety, and they can (and will) mate each other if they are kept together, and make hybrids.

 

[happy duck]

Happy to answer any genetics questions

Breeding to the Standard is about selecting the ducks you have that are the ones that most closely match the Standard, and breeding those together and culling out the ones that aren't as good examples.

It's also good to look for ones that compliment each other. As an example, maybe you have a female Call with a really great head but her beak is a little too long. But you have a male whose beak is very short, but his head isn't quite as good as the female's. You breed those two together in the hopes that you'll get offspring that get the nice head from mom and the shorter beak from Dad.

@Pyxis is definitely better with specific duck genetics.

I’d just like to add as far as your comment about hybrids, that probably is in reference to crossing breeds, such as mating a mallard with a Rouen, or a khaki Campbell with a welsh harlequin, etc. If you plan to actually breed to standards, obviously you should only mate the same breeds together. Pick one, or however many you have room to keep separated, and work from there. Many backyard duck keepers like a variety, and they can (and will) mate each other if they are kept together, and make hybrids.

Thanks so much! Yall were very helpful! I booked marked both of yalls post for keeping for the future.