Duck Breed

[Jennakgs]

Hi Everyone! Hoping to get some feedback from those of you who have ducks, or are experienced with duck breeds. We have Runner ducks. And they hatched ducklings about 6 weeks ago. A couple of the ducklings look very similar to a Mallard (see photos). So now I am wondering if one of our hens mated with a wild Mallard (instead of our Runner Drake)? They are free range ducks and we have a small pond, so it is totally possible. Just curious what others thought? We also had a female Mallard try and join my domestic flock a while back. She came into the yard a few times, but the Drake always chased her off. Not sure if related, but it was strange.

Also curious if others think our adult Runners "pure" breed or not? We were told they were Runners when we got them, and they do have many of the characteristics, but not quite as upright as some Runner photos I have seen. I also found out that Runners are notoriously poor parents, and all 3 of my hens went broody their first year, and we're succefull in hatching 10 ducklings. So just questioning if perhaps they are a blend as well. Thanks!

 

[nchls school]

Hi Everyone! Hoping to get some feedback from those of you who have ducks, or are experienced with duck breeds. We have Runner ducks. And they hatched ducklings about 6 weeks ago. A couple of the ducklings look very similar to a Mallard (see photos). So now I am wondering if one of our hens mated with a wild Mallard (instead of our Runner Drake)? They are free range ducks and we have a small pond, so it is totally possible. Just curious what others thought? We also had a female Mallard try and join my domestic flock a while back. She came into the yard a few times, but the Drake always chased her off. Not sure if related, but it was strange. Yes, it is definitely possible your runners would mate with a mallard, but I'd think your runner drake would chase off strange drakes. It's also possible that the mallard coloration is in the genes of the parent stock. One pair of my calls look just like small wild mallards.

Also curious if others think our adult Runners "pure" breed or not? We were told they were Runners when we got them, and they do have many of the characteristics, but not quite as upright as some Runner photos I have seen. I also found out that Runners are notoriously poor parents, and all 3 of my hens went broody their first year, and we're succefull in hatching 10 ducklings. So just questioning if perhaps they are a blend as well. Thanks! I would guess your older ducks to be a blend and not pure. Pure runners have been selectively bred to just lay eggs much like our top producing chickens.
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[Miss Lydia]

https://www.purelypoultry.com/premium-runner-ducklings-p-1118.html#PhotoSwipe1597530114942. A Mallard colored Runner is called Grey

 

[Isaac 0]

They look pure to me, and as Miss Lydia mentioned there are "grey" variants which look like the mallard coloration.