Crest Gene in ducks not Homozygous Lethal?

[Amer]

I've always read breeding crested to crested will give you some ducks that die in the shell and others that are noncrested because crested is a homozygous lethal trait so all crested ducks are heterozygous.
I don't support breeding genetic defects. Nor am I a duck owner. Nonetheless...
My brother has crested ducks from show stock and they are all homozygous. He gets good hatch rates (the males are much better breeders than his runners) and all of the ducklings are crested. When they cross with his runners, all ducklings are crested.
And we hatch dozens, so it's not like this is just dumb luck.
The crested ducklings are healthy and don't show any signs of brain injuries.
Were we lied to about the gene? Perhaps the Crested breed has a different gene from crested ducks in general?
Or were the birds they used when tested in the laboratory bred to such an extreme that they started dying in the shell?
Perhaps these ducks have adapted traits to overcome their genetic defect?
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378111919309412

 

[Debbie292d]

We're new to ducks having recently been given two we've determined are buff orpington ducklings. However, having said that, and raising silkies for nearing a decade with their vaulted skulls and pom pom tops, it stands to reason, I'd want ducks the same.

Good info if we venture further into raising ducks!

 

[Amer]

Can we revive this discussion? Any of the Crested duck threads get shut for replies because of this persistent myth about Crested genes. It gets passed around and regurgitated regularly by people who frankly have no clue.
I have ducks, and Cresteds, from different hatcheries and one that was a naturally occurring crest from Craigslist. I’m trying to develop a colorful medium sized Crested duck (no Runner genes) and revive the Black Crested duck.
I’ve only recently had fertilized eggs hatch from my girls and am working on the maths in a presentable format. I have not seen the dying in the shell that’s supposed to happen, although to date I’ve only had crested with non crested breedings so far.
Here’s info from Metzer and every hatchery sells Crested Whites (what do they do with the non crests from these breedings? White Layers, anyone???). If these hatcheries lost 25% in the shell and more during/after hatch, it’s a pretty crappy business model.
I also included the rating by customers.
MY Cresteds are eye catching, fun personalities and great for eggs, so I don’t see the point in demeaning this kind of duck or those who enjoy them.

I believe this!
Although not the part where any duck can be shown in the crested class, since Crested is a breed not a class, crested individuals of other breeds would be varieties.
I have seen black Crested only once, it would certainly be interesting to see again.

 

[Amer]

That is a whole other discussion that’s quite asinine tbh. Breed and variety…Breed is Duck, either mallard or muscovy. Selected traits such as color, size etc are just varieties. Each show will say what it allows, here in TX the State Fair only allows White or Black Crested whereas the Stock Show just has Crested, so yes, any color can be shown.
For example, I have Cayugas. Some lay white eggs and some lay gray eggs. How can that be possible if they were a breed and not a variation? They came from the same reknown hatchery. This hatchery has several’Breeds’ that are admittedly hybrids and a ‘breed’ that lays green eggs, no mention of the bird color at all.
Variations have had traits selected and standardized into a breed standard, but they’re still just variations of a Mallard.
He’s older now & I’ve determined he’s a he, but this is my naturally occurring Crested Cayuga. I’m sure plenty of Crested Runners have been entered as a Black Crested as well, although I personally don’t want any Runner traits in my ducks.

The American Poultry Association defines what are breeds and varieties, all APA shows are consistent. I'm not talking about fairs.

 

[Slothinc]

I am happy to read this, as when I am able to get ducks, I definitely want some crested ones!!

 

[member 104844]

I am happy to read this, as when I am able to get ducks, I definitely want some crested ones!!

Have to show off these guys. I don’t want Bibs for my project and I don’t need the Gray Mallard pattern. The last ones should be sex linked females and they are really pretty. The runt is tiny but fierce, has a split crest so will keep as a pet.

 

[Slothinc]

Have to show off these guys. I don’t want Bibs for my project and I don’t need the Gray Mallard pattern. The last ones should be sex linked females and they are really pretty. The runt is tiny but fierce, has a split crest so will keep as a pet.

They are absolutely gorgeous

 

[member 104844]

They are absolutely gorgeous

I think so! I’ve been working for a year on these guys, my Crested ladies were excellent at evading the boys until recently lol

 

[Slothinc]

I think so! I’ve been working for a year on these guys, my Crested ladies were excellent at evading the boys until recently lol

You are making me want crested ducks right now

 

[member 104844]

You are making me want crested ducks right now

I love mine!! They like to be sprayed in the face with the hose and nibble my boots if I’m too slow with the mealworms my Crested ladies were a lucky find at Tractor Supply after calling for months and asking if they had poofy headed ducks (because even the lowest level employee was capable of checking that) and Fabulous Kevin came from Metzer