Breeding Runners with Appleyards

[trailhound]

As luck would have it, I have ended up with two standard Silver Appleyard drakes and no females. However, one of the drakes and one of my runner hens have fallen in love (they have been inseparable for months and months). I haven't hatched any of the eggs because I wasn't sure if it was a good idea- they have such different body styles- tall and skinny and short and stout, very stout. I wasn't sure how well that would go- I don't mind interesting looking ducks, just don't want to end up with one that has physical problems because if it. Has anyone had any experience with crossing runners with heavy breeds? They have started a nest and were both sitting on the nest today. I thought it was nice to help- my husband thinks we need to breed for the trait of drakes that will sit on the nest so the hens can keep laying, lol.

Thanks for any advice you have!

 

[FenDruadin]

Hey, your husband's idea is wonderful! If you could get that to work--wow, that would be the perfect breed.

I don't see any particular reason why breeding the two breeds together would be a problem. People often cross breeds without genetic problems. In animals that carry their young in their bodies, you can run into problems when the father is much larger than the mother, but in ducks the egg size is determined by the female, so mating her to a larger duck won't cause that kind of problem. The only potential downfall I can see is if he were so large he was injuring her during mating, but since you're not having that trouble, I say go for it.

The only caveat I would have is that if you want to sell the babies you're likely to have more trouble selling mixed breeds than pure. People in general like to have purebreeds.

Good luck.

 

[bock]

It sounds like an interesting mix!

I don't see why there would be any problems. I am wondering about their size though. When they hatch, the babies would be the size of a runner duckling, because they have a runner-sized egg to grow in.....right? But what about as they grow? They would eventually be somewhere btw their parents in size, wouldn't they?