Infertile duck flock?

[CarleeAnn]

About fertile eggs.....Collect daily and they are no different than store bought eggs that are not fertilized ....They need to be set in order for embryos to develop...

I understand that and I’m sure I would get over the thought of what could have been.

 

[Pyxis]

The alternative was to order a variety of ducks, all which could not produce viable offspring (so not mules, but no fertilization at all). But this seems like a trickier task.

Very tricky, since all breeds including muscovies can breed together to produce offspring, lol. You would have had to have been ordering exotics of different species to make that work.

 

[CarleeAnn]

Very tricky, since all breeds including muscovies can breed together to produce offspring, lol. You would have had to have been ordering exotics of different species to make that work.

That makes sense. Maybe I will look into exotics! Are there any other crosses of ducks that produce mules besides with muscovies?

 

[chickens really]

I don't think you will find a breed of infertile Ducks because they are extinct ....

 

[Pyxis]

That makes sense. Maybe I will look into exotics! Are there any other crosses of ducks that produce mules besides with muscovies?

The reason that muscovies produce mules, infertile offspring, with all mallard derived breeds is because they are different species, but closely enough related to still breed, like horses and donkeys, hence the offspring being called mules.

I honestly don't know if there are any other species of duck that are closely related enough to do that with.

 

[CarleeAnn]

I don't think you will find a breed of infertile Ducks because they are extinct ....

Haha I suppose that is true! I guess I meant cross breeds.

 

[CarleeAnn]

The reason that muscovies produce mules, infertile offspring, with all mallard derived breeds is because they are different species, but closely enough related to still breed, like horses and donkeys, hence the offspring being called mules.

I honestly don't know if there are any other species of duck that are closely related enough to do that with.

I suppose I could order eggs of many different crosses of muscovies- like a Cayuga cross, Rouen cross, Pekin cross, etc. and these would all hatch as mules. Do crosses typically look more like muscovies? Would their eggs still vary in color?

 

[Pyxis]

I suppose I could order eggs of many different crosses of muscovies- like a Cayuga cross, Rouen cross, Pekin cross, etc. and these would all hatch as mules. Do crosses typically look more like muscovies? Would their eggs still vary in color?

I believe they do vary in appearance based on the two parents. Here's a neat write up on the creation of white mule ducks: http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Ducks/Musc/Mule.html

My guess is they would also retain egg differences to some degree, but I couldn't say for sure.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Haha it’s okay! It was a confusing question. I would like to order eggs to hatch, preferably eggs that will hatch as mules.

But you did answer my question- I just need to order Muscovy crosses.

The alternative was to order a variety of ducks, all which could not produce viable offspring (so not mules, but no fertilization at all). But this seems like a trickier task.

if you want mules, you will want to speak to someone directly that has both muscovies and a mallard derived breed and see inf they can get you eggs

good luck in your adventures!

 

[The Moonshiner]

I think you're over complicating things.
Just buy females. Whatever breeds you want. Then you'll have an assorted flock laying different colored infertile eggs.
If and when you decide you want to hatch you can find some fertile eggs from someone else and hatch them. You then will have to re home the drakes but that goes with hatching. If you don't want to re home just don't hatch any.
Honestly drakes (mules or not) are a pain at times. Id skip all that and stick with an all hen flock. You'll be happier, they'll be happier and you'll have all the infertile eggs you want without drake drama or the hassles of trying to get all these mules that won't be doing anything productive for you.