Can runner drakes successfully mate with call females

[bemba]

I am wanting to cross a black pied runner drake with a mallard coloured call to get the black pied in the calls, I know it takes a few generations to get the size back down but i think they will be very attractive birds. If they cant mate naturally, does anyone know how to AI ducks? Any help would be really great. PS i know if the runner was a girl things might seem more possible HAHA

 

[Willowbrook]

From my experience with Runners, a drake can mate with just about any kind of duck. Mine do.

 

[rainplace]

The problem the runner has is how tall it is. Your drake can mate with the call, but it will be awkward for him. When he has her by the head, her vent will be at his chest. I'm certain he'll keep trying though

 

[92caddy]

trust me, ifs theres a will, theres a way, he will find a way to have his way with her

 

[rainplace]

Also, you're not only going to be trying to bring the size back down, but also get rid of all vestiges of the runner body type and bring back in the call duck body type. You may want to use a drake with a more duck like shape.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Should be some interesting looking ducklings - not only color-wise but body shapes. Would love to see pictures once they hatch and as they grow.

 

[bemba]

Thanks guys..... will let you know how it goes..... PS they all have access to a massive lake, which they spend all day on then at dusk they all waddle back home up three flights of stairs to the top story of the house and round the corner to my massive garage which is a five star duck motel.... they really do have a better life than me!.... well almost.... So maybe the act of mating will be more possible in the water.... and also so my little call isnt crushed by her monstrous mate... lol

 

[CityChicker]

They definitely will be able to mate. You're right, they might very well be able to do it easier in water. As far as the color, there is almost certainly an easier way to get where you want to go. I am not sure what color you are talking about. Do you have a picture of the Runner? What country are you in? I have never heard of Black Pied in Runners (in any ducks actually). A picture would help. If it is possible to breed Pied (Runner pattern) on Black, it would take several generations to get them both to homozygous with the breeding you are considering.

Black already exists in Calls and Pied already exists in Calls. I have never seen or heard of one that is Black Pied, but if it's possible, it would be much, much easier to start with Calls instead of breeding to a Runner. Even if you can find at least one Call that is already Black or Pied, that would help immensely. Anyway, I'm still very interested to see your Runner since I can't recall ever seeing Black Pied. I'm sure he's a beauty.

I would think it would be possible, because Magpie and Ancona pattern have both been bred with Extended Black (in Calls even) and both have the genes for Pied. I would definitely avoid breeding from either of those though because getting rid of the Bibbed genes would be next to impossible.

 

[duckluck]

Has anyone ever tried to breed bantam sized Runners? Maybe this might be an interesting thing to try for too if the color experiment fails? I know I'd like one! I like the Runners but don't have any because they'd be so much bigger than my Calls.

 

[bemba]

I am actually in Australia Queensland..... so pretty much our calls are very rare to get in colours apart from silver, natural and white, so this is the reason I want to attempt the cross. The reason I call him black pied is that he has a jet black body (with green sheen) his flights are white, his whole neck is white, a white streak down his belly, and the top of head is black. Also his feet are orange with large black patches ( like someone splattered paint on them). He has just fully feathered and is still with mum (a Call) and his brother (runner also) is the same as him exept the black is replaced with natural mallard, and half the tail is white. And his three future girls (the calls biological ducklings) It looks so funny to see this odd little family, and everyone thinks that the runners are the parents! As for mini runners.... well you know maybe this is how some of the breeds came about, would be pretty cool tho lol. I will get some pics up of them soon. Cheers people.