Hatching of my first ducklings of the year - Particularly stressfull, but lessons learned!

[Papaye]

Hi.

SR straight run (don’t know if male or female)
SL sex linked (tell by color at hatch)

Thank you for the precision.

What color are you calling Trout?

Trout is Mallard/Grey colours, but females are lighter coloured than Mallard coloured ones.
(Trout drakes are the same colour than Mallard coloured ones...)

Here : https://www.duskyfeatherswaterfowl.com/mallard-pattern

Have you played with the color calculator? Let me know your results, I play with it (and the turkey one and the goose one ) at least daily!

I have (played with THE calculator).

Nevertheless, I don't know if the results are really so accurate...
So, I just use it when I'm curious to see what colours I could eventually obtain by crossing differents coloured ducks, OR - sometimes - just to see the pictures showing some of the rarest duck colours...

But you’re right, there a few pictures of adult bird coloring

That's why I post so much pictures on this website (nothing big, but something at least)... could always help someone, right?

But not absolutely definitive since I’m working on SL turkey poults, had them feather tested for sex (because I can’t wait 5 months lol), but my Royal Palms and Sweetgrass are just yellow at hatch. So it was important for me to document duckling color from hatch forward. The Lilac girl changed the most! I can’t wait to see her grow. My Blues are also beautiful, one is SR and one is SL. I also have three Buffs I want to see when they will look different unless I got lucky? unlucky? and the three end up being Light/Blonde variation.
I have six eggs cooking now, due in a week from one Cayuga duck only, so I think that will be a nice little limited research project to see colors there.

That's impressive...!

Will you post pictures, once your turkeys are entirely feathered? Would be nice to see their growth...
(Actually : same with your ducks...)

I don’t know a lot about Runner colors, that’s why I didn’t want to introduce other body types or colors.

Well... Indian Runner ducks come in all kind of colours...!

To get Crested though, I have to introduce “White” so any crazy color they are genetically as well I know Cresteds have Pekin, Runner and Aylesbury which I’m not a fan of any but it’s what I needed.

I got Bali ducklings this year : I was surprised to see crested ducklings in my second and third hatchings of 2024.
...Although none of the parents are crested...

Apparently, from what I learned : apart from muscovies, all ducks can be crested.
And none of the parents even need to be (crested) for a duckling to be born with a crest, as long as at least one (parent) have the gene responsible of the crest trait.

If I were to try to go all the way around to get a Black Crested, I think the best way is to use White Crested on Buff = Blue Mallard (but only a chance of Crest).

Not sure you would obtain Blue by crossing White with Buff.

If you don't know what colours is hidden by the white, you would need to go on test breeding your White duck...

And the Crest is only a chance, bigger Crests are from breeding Crested to Crested…

I don't know about that.
I got a pretty, very big crested duckling from non-crested parents... and he actually even has THREE crests...

So, if you want a big crest, you could be lucky on your first try!

It would be simpler for you, just a matter of pairing the right colors to get to Black.

Yes.
I have to try more, but I also have to find standard coloured Runners - and sadly, it is not easy!

 

[Bolfreak]

You are absolutely right, a lot of info we “have” keeps getting passed on as truth or experience when it’s likely neither. Best thing to do is test it out and try.
The color calc said White and Buff = Blue Mallard (among others, I was just explaining my non Bib approach to get a Crested Black ), since you said you were trying to get back to Black in your breeding. I will need several breeding cycles to get to (hopefully) a flock of Crested Blue & Apricot mallards that breed true.
I think the Buff variations are fascinating because it’s unstable and has Blue and Black in it. Orpington had other colors of Buffs, which makes sense when you see the breeds he used to develop them.
The Crested aspect is also interesting and I’ve done a lot of research but am now in the experience phase. Mine are 2 months old so still have some months to go, but read they are good dual purpose ducks, too.
Don’t worry, I’ll post a lot of pics, too many probably. Still waiting on my turkeys to distinguish which are Royal Palm and Sweetgrass, they all still look the same at this age, white with some black bars. Maybe the Sweetgrass is developing little tiger striped feathers on his shoulders, but I’m still observing. I had a great experience with IQbirdtesting to get them sexed with feathers, 5 months is too long for me to see sex linked results
Here’s a pic of one of my Crested ducks (pretty sure it’s female by voice) in love with the babies on their field trip, she justs sits there near them Lilac girl on the left of the ducky pile.
Sir Alex the Sw turkey wasn’t a big fan

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

since you said you were trying to get back to Black in your breeding.

Yes, but I think I will have to buy at least one black or two blue Runners if I want to have solid black ducklings : I could be wrong, but I don't think I will be able to reach my objective with my current ducks...?
(At least, I tried...!)

The Crested aspect is also interesting and I’ve done a lot of research but am now in the experience phase.

I recently have learned if you want to have crested babies, you should not use a duck that have not a very centered crest, since apparently, he could have reproductive disorders otherwise...?
(I don't have a source.)

Mine are 2 months old so still have some months to go, but read they are good dual purpose ducks, too.

Yes, I read the same.

Don’t worry, I’ll post a lot of pics, too many probably.

Oh no... there can NOT be "too much" pictures...!!

Still waiting on my turkeys to distinguish which are Royal Palm and Sweetgrass, they all still look the same at this age, white with some black bars. Maybe the Sweetgrass is developing little tiger striped feathers on his shoulders, but I’m still observing.

...Do they really look the same?
I would not have thought so, since adult colours are so much different!!

Here’s a pic of one of my Crested ducks (pretty sure it’s female by voice) in love with the babies on their field trip, she justs sits there near them

Thank you for the pictures...!!

Ooooh... I would be careful about voice sexing her at her age : I once had an Indian Runner that quacked like a girl at almost 3-months-old... and he actually was a boy!

...I see a yellow duckling with... a skull malformation, on your pictures? (Don't look like there is a crest...?)

Lilac girl on the left of the ducky pile.

She is just so cute...!!

Sir Alex the Sw turkey wasn’t a big fan

Ah, ah!

 

[Bolfreak]

Color pic detail today- BC Blue Cayuga (male SL) oranger feet
Inter - Blue from a Buff egg (SR), darker feet (female??) also larger but is two days older. Bills and body are same color.
Lilac girl
And two back feather comparisons from my male turkeys Sweetgrass with tigery striped feathers and Royal Palm, just black and white.

 

[Papaye]

Here are the now six-weeks-old Runner ducklings :

They are happy to have clean water, but of course... ducks! So : water won't stay clean for long...

Color pic detail today

Thank you...!!!

BC Blue Cayuga (male SL) oranger feet
Inter - Blue from a Buff egg (SR), darker feet (female??) also larger but is two days older. Bills and body are same color.
Lilac girl

She is just so cute...!!
I so wonder what she is going to look like once grown up...?

And two back feather comparisons from my male turkeys Sweetgrass with tigery striped feathers and Royal Palm, just black and white.

Not a lot of differences here...! You really have to know your birds to differenciate them.

 

[Bolfreak]

Love your Runners! They are definitely unique looking.
I obsessively keep records and band all of my birds, it’s the only way to do proper research.
I’m fortunate to be able to study my birds so much every day, I can usually tell which eggs are from which hen and where their hidey hole to make a nest is
I have four more eggs hatching from one duck (I tried stack hatching with lots of mixed eggs and only these four duck eggs made it do NOT recommend stacking). Will attach pics when I move them to brooder. I may have a Chocolate, but not sure since duckling pics are impossible to find
Your white Splash with one spot is very cool! Reading more about White, I think you’re correct in calling it leakage since White can be anything underneath.
I was reading the difference in Chocolate depends on brown-linked or buff-linked which gives a lighter color. Maybe in Blue it’s the same, too, since these are identical from CayugaxBuff SR and BuffxCayuga SL only the feet seem darker on SR. Not sure if genetic or gender, some of them are being sold tomorrow so I will only keep the Lilac and SR Blue for pics.

 

[Bolfreak]

Yes, but I think I will have to buy at least one black or two blue Runners if I want to have solid black ducklings : I could be wrong, but I don't think I will be able to reach my objective with my current ducks...?
(At least, I tried...!)

Yes, I needed to go a different route from Bib even though I had to introduce White because of the Crest. My results would be back to Black from a Black drake on Lilac Mallard duck (among other options: solid Black). That’s only because I won’t keep any Bibs for breeding. I’m not sure how many and what colors you have, plus would have to control breeding.

I recently have learned if you want to have crested babies, you should not use a duck that have not a very centered crest, since apparently, he could have reproductive disorders otherwise...?
(I don't have a source.)

That percentage is quoted often, it comes from a book. However, I have yet to see anyone have experience either way. I always “lose” a percentage of eggs in every bird I have; whether no development or an early or late quitter. Metzer hatchery actually has breeding Crested info on their site that says they don’t experience that percentage of loss (if it were true, they wouldn’t do it because $$ loss).

Do they really look the same?
I would not have thought so, since adult colours are so much different!!

I need to get new pics, but yes, the Sweetgrass male is finally getting brown in his feathers, at close to two months old, compared to my three RPs one male two female that just have white and black. I’ll get pics again.

I see a yellow duckling with... a skull malformation, on your pictures? (Don't look like there is a crest...?)

No, the skull is fully closed, he just scraped some feathers off at hatch that will have to grow back. First thing I did was check for a hole when I saw his bald patch, he’s fine just ugly Bad hair day.

I had a duck mom getting picked on by the boys, so she went to a boyless home with a friend who found a duck that was lonely. These four hatched from her and only her from a giant batch I tried stack hatching. A black and a lilac were late quitters Anyway, I’m hoping at least one is a Chocolate, but can only find duckling pics for Choc Runners. So will keep all these and see as they grow. Especially the two on the right in the pic look more dusky/brownish but regular Cayuga ducklings can do that and grow out Black so will need to document. I’m also wondering if setting my incubator higher (to 100 to maintain a temp above 97 consistently) is more conductive to males hatching so might try lowering it and see if the girls can hatch better.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Love your Runners! They are definitely unique looking.

They are.
I love their so upright stance...!

I obsessively keep records and band all of my birds, it’s the only way to do proper research.

You are right, and admirable to do so.

I’m fortunate to be able to study my birds so much every day, I can usually tell which eggs are from which hen and where their hidey hole to make a nest is

Same...!! Because I think I can be a bit obsessive about genetics, since I am so curious. (I am no expert, but I am interested!)

I have noticed my Black Runners lay Blue eggs (the mother laying the smaller ones), and my Light Dusky ones lay striped eggs...
I can tell what duck lay which egg exactly, since even sizes are different...

Same for the chickens : even chickens from the same breed can lay different coloured and/or sized eggs, so if ever there is a problem with these eggs, I'm lucky to be able to recognize what hen is to be cared for eventually.

(I tried stack hatching with lots of mixed eggs and only these four duck eggs made it do NOT recommend stacking)

I did not know about "stack hatching" before reading your post!! (So, I have looked it on Youtube...)

Your white Splash with one spot is very cool!

Thank you.
If only I could take a better picture...!!

Reading more about White, I think you’re correct in calling it leakage since White can be anything underneath.

Yeah... but his one coloured feather I can see does tell me nothing about his "other" colour...!
I will have to look at his back, since the other leakages are here (but for the time being : he has wings above...!).

I was reading the difference in Chocolate depends on brown-linked or buff-linked which gives a lighter color.

Okay. I did not know that...!!

I’m not sure how many and what colors you have, plus would have to control breeding.

For the time being, I have 11 adults ducks :
- 1 Trout drake;
- 1 White drake;
- 1 Bibbed Black drake (misshaped bib);
- 3 Light Dusky duck;
- 2 White duck;
- 2 Black Bibbed duck (one from which I don't actually know if the very few white spots she has can be considered as a bib?);
- 1 faulted Trout duck.

I am keeping some of their ducklings, but again : I don't think I could get back to Solid Black with them...

So, since I have another hen that is now broody, I just bought duck eggs online - among them, Indian Runner eggs : 4 Grey/Mallard, 3 White, and 3 Black.
I hope to be lucky and have at least one Black runner hatch...!

I have good looks in my Runners : my Bibbed Black drake is especially shiny, so much so breeding him with a Light Dusky hen has even made one of my Light Dusky drakelets with not blueish black, but TURQUOISE feathers emerging from his rump...!
So, I really want to get to Solid Black with this drake : he is really much too interesting for breeding...

Metzer hatchery actually has breeding Crested info on their site that says they don’t experience that percentage of loss (if it were true, they wouldn’t do it because $$ loss).

They could be lucky, or maybe the percentage of loss is not actually a very verified fact...?

I’ll get pics again.

Thanks!

No, the skull is fully closed, he just scraped some feathers off at hatch that will have to grow back. First thing I did was check for a hole when I saw his bald patch, he’s fine just ugly Bad hair day.

From the pictures, his skull looks vaulted... so, I was wondering!
But lucky him, at least...!!

These four hatched from her and only her from a giant batch I tried stack hatching. A black and a lilac were late quitters

Sad and disappointing (especially for the late quitters, right...?), but at least : better four than none.
(You know you won't try this method again.)

Anyway, I’m hoping at least one is a Chocolate, but can only find duckling pics for Choc Runners.

But I think chocolate ducklings are all coloured the same, whatever breed they are...?

(In any case, these four babies are cute!)

 

[Bolfreak]

I have noticed my Black Runners lay Blue eggs (the mother laying the smaller ones), and my Light Dusky ones lay striped eggs...

I had a good friend tell me that egg color comes from the duck (since most feather color is determined by drake). He has selectively incubated colored eggs and confirmed those girls lay colored eggs. However, this might be different for Cayugas since the bloom is dark, not the shell. His green/blue eggs are shell colors. I had a Cayuga that only laid whitish eggs, but when her daughters laid eggs, they were very weird dark looking Cayuga eggs. Interesting but I have no explanation

I have good looks in my Runners : my Bibbed Black drake is especially shiny, so much so breeding him with a Light Dusky hen has even made one of my Light Dusky drakelets with not blueish black, but TURQUOISE feathers emerging from his rump...!
So, I really want to get to Solid Black with this drake : he is really much too interesting for breeding...

This won’t be hard since you can get different hatching eggs in the colors you want and have both White and Black. You may want to try my route (let me play with your color ducks and get back to you). Especially if you don’t care about Bib or not. I have not tried starting with a Mallard color because I don’t have that and don’t want to add mallard or Rouen to my flock. If you have a very nice trait like your shiny drake, it’s definitely worth trying to keep those traits going!

Sad and disappointing (especially for the late quitters, right...?), but at least : better four than none.
(You know you won't try this method again.)

I won’t I’ve noticed regardless my geese are about 1 in 4 that develop and hatch. Thankfully all my developers hatched. But it was 3 girls, 1 boy from about 30 eggs their first time. Not sure if they will lay again until next spring.
My current method to try for incubating is a mix of turkey and duck eggs, no tray and frequent hand turning on shelf liner so they don’t roll. We’ll see!

But I think chocolate ducklings are all coloured the same, whatever breed they are...?

(In any case, these four babies are cute!)

I don’t know and may be wishful thinking, but I sold off most of my Cayugas and then freaked out so will probably keep these for months or ever.

Updated pics- I LOVE my Blue and Lilac. The Blue seems to be developing very large compared to Lilac, not sure if gender or F1 hybrid effect. I’m leaning toward female because bill and feet have always been dark, but if male will still probably keep as it’s not related to Lilac and will give nice colors.
Turkey pics…two RPs female on left, male on right. And Sweetgrass male finally getting tan/brown on shoulders, wing feathers and tail. All are 2 months old. And pics of them sleeping (even though they look dead they just sleep like that when it’s hot and parents.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

I had a good friend tell me that egg color comes from the duck (since most feather color is determined by drake). He has selectively incubated colored eggs and confirmed those girls lay colored eggs.

But does the mom's feather colours play a role...?

...If I breed a Light Dusky runner with a White drake, and get a white female duckling from them... will this female really lay striped egg - like her Light Dusky mom?
(I would have to verify.)

I had a Cayuga that only laid whitish eggs, but when her daughters laid eggs, they were very weird dark looking Cayuga eggs. Interesting but I have no explanation

Yeah... not so long ago, I actually thought ALL Black ducks (first) laid black eggs...
Mines do when they lay their first eggs of the year, then the eggs end up lightening by the days, and eventually become blue.

...But I have bought a Cayuga egg around a month ago, and I'm pretty sure it was white (I actually did not look carefuly, since I put the eggs underneath a broody hen as soon as I received them).

If you have a very nice trait like your shiny drake, it’s definitely worth trying to keep those traits going!

...Here is Turquoise - one of his sons (the one at the center of the picture) :

I could not get a better picture (I tried!), but the feathers that started emerging from his rump really are turquoise, and not blueish black like they should be.

...Another promising duckling I got from my Bibbed Black drake is almost 4 weeks old now, and is Bibbed Black... and already has shiny, very blueish emerging feathers.
I would hope for a girl, but since it looks like this duckling will be shinier yet than my drake... I am pretty sure it is a male?

My current method to try for incubating is a mix of turkey and duck eggs, no tray and frequent hand turning on shelf liner so they don’t roll. We’ll see!

Good luck with that...!
I would be really interested to know the results.

(That's why I am only using broody hens : they just know and do better than me...)

I don’t know and may be wishful thinking, but I sold off most of my Cayugas and then freaked out so will probably keep these for months or ever.

Hmmm... that's a shame.
Do you not have any contact with the buyers anymore?

Updated pics-

Thank you!!!!

I LOVE my Blue and Lilac.

Yeah. You have reasons to...!!

The Blue seems to be developing very large compared to Lilac, not sure if gender or F1 hybrid effect.

...Or could just be growing faster than the Lilac duckling, but be around the same size once adult...?

I’m leaning toward female because bill and feet have always been dark,

Looks too young to tell now.

All are 2 months old.

God... they actually are so small...!!

All are 2 months old. And pics of them sleeping (even though they look dead they just sleep like that when it’s hot and parents.

No, but... when I first saw the picture, I thought one was dead... indeed!

(Thank you so much for the pictures...!!)