Da' Cute and Cuddly Call Duck thread!

[Amykins]

Hey, any of you guys have video or a description of mating behavior in call hens? Bean's been acting hyper all morning, running around, voraciously bobbing her head and doing "Joker duck" calls. Wobbles has been doing his patented Manly Head Fluff back at her for the past half hour, it's too cute!

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Hey, any of you guys have video or a description of mating behavior in call hens? Bean's been acting hyper all morning, running around, voraciously bobbing her head and doing "Joker duck" calls. Wobbles has been doing his patented Manly Head Fluff back at her for the past half hour, it's too cute!

I don't have videos but could easily get some since mine do this every day. What I can pretty reasonably say is, "Don't look, Mom." They're thinking about twangling.

Really, Amy, don't look. It can be painful to watch, especially when they're just fumbling through it in the beginning.

 

[Amykins]

Psh, I'd like to see them try, they both got diapers on. She only did it once this morning, but I'll be excited if this means I can expect eggs soon! It's so cute when they toss their head in little circles like that, isn't it? And when either of them runs around all hyper with their heads down, it's just the cutest thing ever <3

 

[AmandaVirginia]

I'm looking for Grey, Snowy, Butterscotch, or Pastel Call duck hatching eggs. Anyone that still has hens laying this season, please comment below or pm me. I'm very interested in 6+ or more. Thanks so much in advance!

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Psh, I'd like to see them try, they both got diapers on. She only did it once this morning, but I'll be excited if this means I can expect eggs soon! It's so cute when they toss their head in little circles like that, isn't it? And when either of them runs around all hyper with their heads down, it's just the cutest thing ever <3

It doesn't necessarily mean you can expect eggs soon. Our Calls mate all year round, though more at some times than others, but they don't lay all year.

You did bring up something that's never crossed my mind. How does a duck that wears a diaper lay eggs? The eggs couldn't be fertile if they prevent mating, but how would they lay any eggs?

 

[JadeComputerGal]

I'm looking for Grey, Snowy, Butterscotch, or Pastel Call duck hatching eggs. Anyone that still has hens laying this season, please comment below or pm me. I'm very interested in 6+ or more. Thanks so much in advance!

I don't sell our eggs, but @Lacrystol might have some. There's also one eBay auction right now from a seller listed as boys_3. I've bought eggs twice from the seller and had good fertility and hatch rates from them. However, and this a big however, I don't live far from the seller, so the eggs didn't have to go through as much shipping as they would for somebody who doesn't live in the northeast part of the US. Since I'm not sure where you're located, not sure if you want to try that if you don't get responses here.

 

[Amykins]

It doesn't necessarily mean you can expect eggs soon. Our Calls mate all year round, though more at some times than others, but they don't lay all year.

You did bring up something that's never crossed my mind. How does a duck that wears a diaper lay eggs? The eggs couldn't be fertile if they prevent mating, but how would they lay any eggs?

According to my peeps in the house duck thread, they either lay it in the diaper, or run to their owner and do the "I gotta lay an egg" dance until they take it off.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

According to my peeps in the house duck thread, they either lay it in the diaper, or run to their owner and do the "I gotta lay an egg" dance until they take it off.

I just really know nothing about this. I'm curious even though I don't intend to ever do it myself. Are these diapers loose enough that they could lay an egg without it causing any problems? How will this work if you do want them to mate? I assume you'd put them into a crate or something to do their thing for fertilized eggs, then put the diapers back on when they come out?

 

[Amykins]

I just really know nothing about this. I'm curious even though I don't intend to ever do it myself. Are these diapers loose enough that they could lay an egg without it causing any problems? How will this work if you do want them to mate? I assume you'd put them into a crate or something to do their thing for fertilized eggs, then put the diapers back on when they come out?

You'd be surprised how stretchy they are Mine have a poopy cup, so they have plenty of room down thar. And yeah, if they mate I'll probably either put them in a tub or hopefully I'll have built a little run for them. We're shopping for coops, but none are particularly indoorsy for obvious reasons, and none are large enough for me to feel comfortable having them spend a significant amount of time in there comfortably. I'm going to home depot this weekend for ideas.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

According to my peeps in the house duck thread, they either lay it in the diaper, or run to their owner and do the "I gotta lay an egg" dance until they take it off.

Oh, and I said that last thing a little too quickly. I had thoughts of the house duck thing last night that I just remembered.

I was sitting last night with the ones we're brooding indoors and thought I saw a small hint of green on one head. I said, "Oh no. No, no, no no," without even thinking I was saying it out loud. The hubby came in to see what the deal was and I asked him to come take a close look. He grumbled because he had to go find glasses, and the light wasn't reliable because it was a CFL, about to have dinner and whatever, but I begged him to take just a quick look.

He relented and looked for a minute, then said, "Yeah, he's gotta go." I felt like I was going to cry and still do. He's our best one in the bunch so far, both in personality and quality, and I was so much hoping that one would be female. Keeping him as a "house duck" would be my only option unless we're both wrong about the gender, which I know we're not.