How do I know what kind of ducks I have?

[grayheather]

Someone gave me some ducks and told me they were Appleyards, i know nothing about different breeds, but they dont all look the same. I managed to hatch out 2 babies (by putting eggs under a broody hen) and they are totally different. One hatched out bright yellow, the other dark green and yellow, (like Orville). How do I tell what they all are

 

[duckyfromoz]

Its hard to know for sure how a duckling may turn out- especially if you are not sure of the genetics of the parents. Sadly you may have to wait til they start to get their feathers to know for sure. Just because the ducklings look different though- doesnt have to mean that the parents arent both appleyards - there can be wide variations in the ducklings down colour.

 

[roocrazy]

 

[Oregon Blues]

An Appleyard duckling is yellowish with a dark stripe down the middle of the head that is known as The Mohawk, and a small dark area at the base of the tail.

Adult Appleyard coloring is very distinctive. If your ducks don't look the same and if they aren't Appleyard colored, and if your ducklings aren't born with the mohawk, then you don't have Appleyards.

When you buy ducks, sometimes people don't really know what they have, so they guess. Or maybe they remember wrong.

All ducks are lovely, so I know yours are very pretty. But if you'd like to post pictures, maybe someone can identify the breed for you.

Also, standard Appleyards are really big ducks.

 

[grayheather]

Thanks for the help folks. I really am new to ducks, but do love my them, I'll take pics and post them, thats a good idea. The first duck I hatched out is nearly full grown and almost ready to go in with the others, but still loves a cuddle, and presses her head onto my neck.