Aztec Ducks!

[Ratchnick]

You guys are setting like crazy. How many eggs are you trying to hatch out?

 

[Pyxis]

You guys are setting like crazy. How many eggs are you trying to hatch out?

If you think the amount of eggs we've set in this thread is crazy, I'd hate for you to find out how many other eggs of different breeds and species I've set this year

These ones I just set are likely the last I will be doing this year. Well, unless mine that I've already hatched this year start laying before the year ends, but I doubt that.

 

[Crestcrazy2]

If you think the amount of eggs we've set in this thread is crazy, I'd hate for you to find out how many other eggs of different breeds and species I've set this year

These ones I just set are likely the last I will be doing this year. Well, unless mine that I've already hatched this year start laying before the year ends, but I doubt that.

How many dif breeds have you set ?

 

[Pyxis]

How many dif breeds have you set ?

This year? Let's see...counting all the breeds of different species, not counting separate colors, 10. 11 if you count my pigeons, but I don't because I don't really set those, the parents do.

No wait, 11 not counting pigeons. I forgot about the emu eggs.

 

[Crestcrazy2]

This year? Let's see...counting all the breeds of different species, not counting separate colors, 10. 11 if you count my pigeons, but I don't because I don't really set those, the parents do.

No wait, 11 not counting pigeons. I forgot about the emu eggs.

Wow

 

[Pyxis]

Wow

It's 12, I forgot a breed. Lol.

 

[Knighstar679]

My second batch of Aztecs is going good. It looks like 14/15 eggs are looking like they are developing well. Only one looks like it is going to be clear. Hopefully in 21 days we will see some more bouncing baby ducklings.

 

[Crestcrazy2]

My second batch of Aztecs is going good. It looks like 14/15 eggs are looking like they are developing well. Only one looks like it is going to be clear. Hopefully in 21 days we will see some more bouncing baby ducklings.

Can wait so you said only people that will breed these amazing ducks can keep them ? I'm to young to have them but would love to when I get older !

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

Aztecs are a very rare breed of bantam duck created by Holderread in 1983. Holderread began to develop them when they realized that people wanted a small, pretty duck to keep that was hardy and easy to propagate. Call ducks weren't cutting it for some people, since well-bred Calls have a lot of trouble hatching and can be hard to breed. So Holderread set out to create a very pretty bantam duck that bred easily and was hardy and vigorous. Thus, the Aztec was created.

They were bred to be about halfway between the extremes of the wild mallard and the Call duck. Not so long and racy as a mallard, but not so short and round as a Call. As a result, they were small, hardy birds that weren't difficult to breed. They were good layers, as far as bantam ducks go, producing between 40 and 100 eggs a year. They were good mothers, and readily hatched and raised their own ducklings.

However, Holderread eventually decided they would no longer keep the breed. Since then, they have nearly become extinct. But some were preserved, and have been kept in small flocks, being outcrossed to Calls or mallards to try to introduce new blood.

A small group of just such these birds made their way to me today. I offered help and genetics advice to someone with a small flock of these beautiful little ducks, and they decided to entrust me with a small flock of my own to work with and to help preserve the breed.

Here is most of my little group today, settling into their new digs. Certainly didn't take them long to find the pool!

View attachment 1845376

More pictures to come as they get settled.

Does anyone else keep this breed?

Wow, congratulations on the ducks!

 

[Pyxis]

Can wait so you said only people that will breed these amazing ducks can keep them ? I'm to young to have them but would love to when I get older !

Hey! Not sure if this was meant for me, since I'm the OP of the thread, but I can answer Right now yes, we're generally only sending eggs or birds to people who want to breed them, since there are so few left that placing them in homes where they won't be propagated isn't a great idea.