I bought & incubated some 'pure' Indian runners..one of them looks funny..

[purplesquirrel]

I bought some eggs off eBay.
A load hatched, I sold some and kept two to add to my flock.

Only one looked different, even from day 1.
Now on nearly 2 months of age and 'he' looks to be a runner cross.
I messaged the guy I bought the eggs from and sent photos of the difference.

He told me, there are 'big boned' Indian Runners and it HAS to be pure as they don't keep any other ducks and it wouldn't be a sneaky wild Mallard as there is no lake or pond miles from their house.

I have attached photos of the animals in question (Jacob) seen as the fat, squT big massive duck. Note; other black and white duck is definitely a pure runner.
The man was very polite in his message when he explained this. But I can't find any information on this genetic trait. Is he taking me for a ride?!

He even looks like a mallard/trout or something...

 

[Amiga]

Here are some of mine. They are "hatchery quality," so not all of them are extremely slender and upright.


far left above is Carmella, a Buff Orpington








One of my favorite photos of the flock - in the hallway, waiting for room service to be done in the brooder.

 

[Senna95]

Was there a particular color they were supposed to be?

 

[purplesquirrel]

Mixed colours. Some pure official colours, and some second generation mixed colours.
The photos were of about 15 runner duck together in a field. Every colour under the sun!
That's why I chose those ones. Gotta love a mix!

The duck in question has just started to get the slithers of blue through on his wings. Very beautiful none the less.

 

[Senna95]

ok. Hard to believe that duck came from runner stock though. I raise runners, and have never had one like that.

 

[purplesquirrel]

I'm pretty skeptical about it as well..
I messaged him and he seemed very honest. He says they've never kept anything other than Runner ducks, ever.
I messaged him today stating that no one I know who breeds runner ducks has ever heard of a 'big boned' runner. He said the person who sold them to him said that they existed. I worry that HE has been taken for a ride...

Today I asked him to send me example of photos of his 'big boned' runners. And suggested even if these do exist, that he stated it in his description on eBay that he has that gene, as most people don't want them. The whole point is that they're not fat and dumpy, that people want the slim, ridiculously upright characteristic.

Fortunately, male female is very slim and upright, I think it's a male - the one that looks like a cross.

I have taken some photos today of him. He looks so much like a juvenile Rouen drake.

 

[purplesquirrel]

*fortunately MY female

 

[lovemy mallards]

He's gorgeous anyway!

 

[purplesquirrel]

Thanks. But i only breed runners! Wahhhhhh well at least it wasn't thr female anyway..

 

[PotatoWaffles]

Definitely looks like a cross to me :/