Duck Breed ID Question (Pics)

[PrincessBillieB]

My cousin found this little guy in her backyard the other day. I spoke to a friend who does wildlife rehab and she didnt recognize him as wild but she is by no means a duck expert. He looks similar to a Silver Appleyard but from what I understand they are pretty rare so that would be strange. Also, all of the pics I have seen of them have orange bills and feet, this little guy has black ones. Would love to know what breed he is! Hybrid maybe?

 

[desertdarlene]

I would say Silver Appleyard, too, or an Appleyard mix. They've been popping up in feed stores for some reason and no one knows why. I've known at least two people who bought them from feed stores with the workers telling them the farm only sells rouens, pekins or magpies.

Make sure you keep him warm. He's going to be very large, I can tell already.

 

[PrincessBillieB]

Thanks so much! I would love it if he happened to be an appleyard!!! I have had him for a little over a week and he seems to be doing well. Growing like a little weed. Speaking of that....I have six older ducklings that are about 2ish weeks old (Cayugas, blue swedish, and rouen) that are substantially bigger than this litte guy. Would it be safe to put them together given the smaller size of this one? It would be great not to have to have 2 complete duckling set ups!!! Thanks for your help again!!!

 

[HouseMouseHens]

Thanks so much! I would love it if he happened to be an appleyard!!! I have had him for a little over a week and he seems to be doing well. Growing like a little weed. Speaking of that....I have six older ducklings that are about 2ish weeks old (Cayugas, blue swedish, and rouen) that are substantially bigger than this litte guy. Would it be safe to put them together given the smaller size of this one? It would be great not to have to have 2 complete duckling set ups!!! Thanks for your help again!!!

I had to add more female ducklings to my brooder when I sexed everyone and found I had three boys and a girl. My brooder is a big kiddie pool with chicken wire all the way around three feet tall. I took some extra chicken wire and split the brooder into two sections, one only about two square feet and the other the rest of the pool. For the first week I had the smaller babies in the small side and everyone else in the big side. That way they could see each other but the babies wouldn't get trampled. After week or so the babies seemed a bit bigger and a lot stronger so I took out the fence and watched them to see how they would do. I needed to add the fence back in for another few days when I wasn't around, but I let them spend the days together in the big side and then eventually took out the fence all together when the smaller babies were about two weeks old. Maybe you could do this?