Colour breeding - Indian Runner Ducks

[Senna95]

The only way to add blue (without causing a whole lot of confusion later on) is to cross trout with either a blue trout or a saxony.

 

[tkgrey]

Is it possible to create an apricot colour from khaki or chocolate runners? If not what combination do I need. It is so difficult to get Indian runners here in Bulgaria I have to get my eggs sent from the uk and hope they all hatch ok

 

[bellah1]

Feel free to ask questions. I love talking about duck color genetics, and I learned a lot from this website by asking others.... and I still do...

The trout gene is really quite simple: A wild-type duck (typical "mallard pattern"), with two "trout" genes will have the same pattern as the wild-type, but the overall look of the birds will be a bit lighter. There is also a gene called "harlequin", which lightens the colors even more (like in the Welsh Harlequin ducks).

Adding ONE Blue-dilution gene to mallard colored ducks will make blue-fawn. Adding TWO blue-dilution genes will make Apricot.

Adding one blue-dilution gene to a trout-colored duck will make blue trout. Adding two will make Saxony colored birds.

If you have white ducks in your pen it will be very difficult to know what genes are being carried by any of your ducks, since white is a "masking gene", and your ducks could be carriers of just about any genes.

I would love to see some photos of your ducks when you get a chance.

I know this is an old thread but I'm trying to find someone to ask about color genetics of some eggs I'm hatching. If your around to answer a couple questions could you please reply?! Thank u!

 

[Ratchnick]

I know this is an old thread but I'm trying to find someone to ask about color genetics of some eggs I'm hatching. If your around to answer a couple questions could you please reply?! Thank u!

Whats your question?

 

[bellah1]

Whats your question?

So I got a batch of eggs that I'm going to hatch. They came from a blue trout drake and blue hens. Everything I am reading points to 25% silver, 25% black and 50% blue all bibbed. I do not know anything about bibbs because I don't care for them but I was wondering if I can breed another color to these that will result in bring back some wild color babies?

 

[Babyshoes]

I know this is an old thread but we have a fawn and white which is new in our country. What can I breed it with to up the chances of hatching more fawn and white babies ? I'm scared we lose the colour.

 

[Janpol]

Hi
I have a question. How can I achieve that pure apricot colour from this

To those ( pure apricot colour with black bills and darkish legs)

For any information I will be really glad.

 

[notallducksinmypond]

Hi
I have a question. How can I achieve that pure apricot colour from this View attachment 4112429
To those ( pure apricot colour with black bills and darkish legs)
View attachment 4112430
For any information I will be really glad.

actually, these are nearly the same color , light type (li/li) homozygous blue (Bl/Bl),
BUT they are different on the pattern allele:
the top ones are M+/M+ like the grey/ wild mallard
and the bottom ones are dusky (md/md)
unfortunally dusky is recessive (just shows on the duck if homozygous)....
sooo you need to get at least one dusky duck (what color dusky is not as important, the lighter, the better) or a pair (to get a little more healty genetic variability)
then you breed your duck (Duck A) to the new dusky drake ( Drake B) (ducklings AB)
and your drake (Drake C) to the new dusky duck (duck D) (ducklings CD).
ALL of the ducklings will carry dusky, NO one will look dusky!
now you pick carefully the lightest ducklings (they ideally have one blue and one light phase from your ducks)
and pair them to each other (now it comes in handy if you bought a pair at first, you dont have to pair siblings, you can pair them with the opposite gender out of the other mating, AB females to CD males and CD females to AB males.)
Out of these pairings about 2% will have the color you are looking for... i know thats a sad percentage....
i lost my precious duck in nearly the same color (just one blue but showing dusky) to a fox about three weeks ago... back to the drawing board i went....

 

[Janpol]

Wow!! Thank you so much for detailed answer.
I have another question. What can I expect after those parents on photo below (Drake is in circle) ? Could ducklings (at least few% of offspring) be (similar to) dusky apricot color like in my previous message?