Call duck bill problem

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

I just bought six Call ducklings from a family in my 4-H club. They were (and still are) perfectly healthy. But I noticed that two of them have a weird condition of their bills: Their lower mandible juts out farther than the upper one. And the upper mandible of one of the duckings is askew. Has anyone experienced this?

 

[Alicia G]

Well it be best to see pics, but it sounds like some genetic issues going on. I have seen a few ducks like them in my time, and they will live good lives with some extra attention, but they will never be show quality and should never have any of the offspring hatched out. They will most likely always have an 'underbite'. I bet they are adorable

 

[duckyfromoz]

I dont have calls- but I have recently hatched a runner that has a problem with its bill. Not sure exactly what happened- it looked fine in the egg when I went to work- then when I got home 9 hours later- it was upside down in the incubator as another duckling had moved the egg. Im not sure if it was because it was upside down in the egg for so long while the bill was still so soft or what- But I have been told thats most likely what happened to my litlte one. Not sure if I believe that- or that it was just some deformity, but she does ok eating and drinking. With my girl the bo9ttom mandible is ok- but from one side you can see the side of her tongue hanging out just a little. From the other side she just looks like a dutch hookbill.

 

[Alicia G]

Well I rescued one that had its upper bill injured. Some stupid teens were playing target practice on the poor ducks

. I had him for three years before I lost him to a predator. And even though he only had half the upper bill, he drank fine, groomed himself normal, played with the other ducks too. I just had to feed him feed I soaked so it was like a mash or sorts

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
I've heard of this, but never experienced it. PM duckluck(that's her BYC name)-she might have some knowledge of this condition-she's pretty duck savvy.