Blue Swedish Cross Genetics - Pics Added

[protodon]

I originally had 2 blue swedish of unknown sex, an indian runner hen and a khaki cambell hen. I started hatching eggs and all the ducklings looked blue swedish, one was even a black blue swedish. So I originally thought that the 2 blue swedish were male and female. But as those ducklings got older I see that they are much larger than any of the ducks I already have. Then the black swedish started to have a shiny green head. Then I found that khaki drakes are the same way. So I came to the conclusion that I actually have 2 blue swedish drakes because all of my ducklings are pretty large and not pure blue swedish.

Okay so after that log winded explanation. My conclusion is that the "blue swedish gene" seems to be dominant over other colorations. All my ducklings have a blue swedish pattern. I mentioned I even have a black one and I have found that I now have a silver splash one as well. Has anyone else experienced this? I was under the impression that you need 2 blue swedish to produce any of the blue swedish color variations. And does anyone have any insight as to why my BS crosses are so much larger than their parents. I mean they are huge! Is this "hybrid vigor" at work? I mean they're not exactly different species.


ETA: Pics!

I apologize for the blurry and far pictures. They are all camera phone pics.

Parents

4 month old ducks

1 month old ducklings

1 month old ducklings

 

[CityChicker]

Do you have pictures of them? All the adults and the offspring?

 

[protodon]

boing

 

[Bleenie]

I dont know why they would be so much bigger but i do know that when you cross a BS and Pekin there is norm ally a LOT of blue colored ducklings, with the splash pattern too.

I have some that should start breeding late this year or next. (BS/Pekin)

ETA: i think the bibbing is hard to breed out but you might wanna post this in genetics.

 

[Goat_Walker]

If you sell eggs let me know

the one with the green head looks similar to my domestic bibbed mallard

 

[Goat_Walker]

Quote:
If you decide to sell eggs in the spring let me know

I love mutt ducks.

 

[monarc23]

It's nice to see someone not worried about crossing their farm duckies!! they are beautiful!!!!

Maybe if you're interested and focus on it enough you could make a new breed (its how breeds are made after all)! Have fun with them either way!

I am very curious to see how my blue (or chocolate?) pet quality call ducks cross with my grey ducks (a pair of mallards and a grey pet quality call duck)

I'll just have to wait til spring though

!!!

 

[Bleenie]

Quote:
The mutts are always cuter!!

 

[Soccer Mom]

I think it is just a matter of lining up the genes.

Blues in a nutshell:

If you breed blue to blue, you get 50% black, 25% blue and 25% Splash.


The reason is that blue is cause by a combination of genes and it doesn't breed true. They must occur in the right combination to produce the blue color. These genes are the black and dilute gene (the one that cause splash).

Black is produced by two black genes, represented as BB. Splash is produced by two of the dilute genes, represent these as blbl. Blue is produced by one of the black genes and one of the dilute genes, Bbl.

So
Black (BB) crossed with Black (BB): 100% Black (BB)
Spash (blbl) crossed with Splash (blbl): 100% Splash (blbl)

Now here is where it gets fun:

Black (BB) crossed with Splash (blbl): 100% Blues! (Bbl)
Black (BB) crossed with Blue (Bbl): you get 50% Black (BB) and 50% Blue (Bbl)
Splash (blbl) crossed with Blue(Bbl): you get 50% Splash(blbl) and 50% Blue (Bbl);

Your other ducks are like throwing in a wild card into the pattern. Now the green head is common with black swedes and runs with the black gene, so it isn't surprising. Combine it with the khaki and you are doubling up on a trait. The white in your runner ducks are probably combining with either the dilute gene or the patter gene that produces the bib and so you are getting splash patterns.

I know that Khakis were the originating breed from which silver pattern Harlequins were derived, so there must be some black and white genes lurking in that genepool somewhere.

Cool. Ducks are so cool. Some of the babies have a carriage that is more upright than what I would expect of a Swede. And that green headed on is HUGE! ZOMG!

Neat combos!

 

[protodon]

Thanks for the input everyone! I never really considered breeding my mutt ducks together. My mutt chickens yes but the mutt ducks never really crossed my mind. But I am definitely going to try it with those first three! Then see what that splash produces as well. I mean the 4 month olds got big pretty quick and with either khaki or runner genes the girls should make more eggs than their blue swedish half, at least. Maybe I could work on a new funky looking dual purpose bird?