Duck Genetics

[razvanM]

Getting production ducks,will I be able to breed them for many generations ? I heard they will breed nicely for the first generation but after few generations the fertility will be very poor even if they are unrelated,is this true ? Because if so I will need to keep my breeders for many years.The will be one of the heavy breeds presented here http://www.thepoultrysite.com/focus/groupe-grimaud/2071/grimaud-freres-selection-peking-ducks

 

[tadkerson]

I have not worked with ducks but if they are like chickens the breeders are produced through male line and female line crossing. The male side is produced by crossing a male and female from one line and the female side is produced by crossing a male and female from another line. Then you cross the drake from the male line with the hen from the female line to produce the ducks that would be raised for food.

If you are purchasing the ducks that are used for food, you will get variable results with the offspring concerning size. The ducks are most likely highly manipulated when it comes to genetics of growth. The two parent lines produce a superior breeder that when crossed produces a production duck that is even more superior. The parents lines are superior when it comes to fertility and egg production- the production birds are superior meat producers.

Just my two cents. This is the way it works with chickens.

Tim