Call duck question...

[Ravynscroft]

Thank you! I was thing she was a Snowy but looking on line the drakes all looked the same. How could you tell?

You'll need to test breed her to see if she is heter- or homozygous for Snowy though... I see the bottom section of her speculum is washed out, not blue, but they will wash out completely when they eclipse so could be that.... or she could have hidden genes in her...

As for the drake, like WV said the head color is the most distinct difference between pastel and blue fawn... pastel has a steel grey head like yours and lighter body as well... blue fawn has a dark charcoal head like my boy here, and a darker body overall as well...

A butter drake looks similar to pastel drake, except the claret bib extends from the front at the sides down the flanks... and they also tend to have washed out eyestripes visible...

 

[Frosty]

You have some beautiful ducks! I also have 4 'Black East Indies'. They are from a hatchery which is why the quotations. I'm thinking about selling them. All of the ducks are loose and the black drakes have been hassling the Call drake.

 

[Julie Birb]

You'll need to test breed her to see if she is heter- or homozygous for Snowy though... I see the bottom section of her speculum is washed out, not blue, but they will wash out completely when they eclipse so could be that.... or she could have hidden genes in her...

As for the drake, like WV said the head color is the most distinct difference between pastel and blue fawn... pastel has a steel grey head like yours and lighter body as well... blue fawn has a dark charcoal head like my boy here, and a darker body overall as well...

View attachment 1344178

A butter drake looks similar to pastel drake, except the claret bib extends from the front at the sides down the flanks... and they also tend to have washed out eyestripes visible...

We are small, cute, wet, barefeeted and don't care because we're DUCKBURDZ.

 

[Ravynscroft]

You have some beautiful ducks! I also have 4 'Black East Indies'. They are from a hatchery which is why the quotations. I'm thinking about selling them. All of the ducks are loose and the black drakes have been hassling the Call drake.

Thanks! So are yours! I have just a few others, lol...

If they're harassing him it won't be long before they harass her... I would definitely think hard about rehoming them cuz they can gang up and fight over her and injure her badly quite easily...

 

[Frosty]

They were after him again tonight... my husband helped me catch them and they are now locked up. The pen is smaller than I would prefer but there is an exotic livestock auction on May 5th and I'm taking them in. The fall sale is where I picked up the Calls.

How many are a 'few others'? The feathers on yours look like they are in great condition! What do you feed them?

 

[WVduckchick]

Um... there are 'a few' days in a year.

 

[Frosty]

I envy you... now I'll have to search for pictures! Do you have any BEI? I'm debating trying to find some from a good source just because I think black ducks are beautiful.