Mallard breeding

[m7md22]

Hi

This year I hatched some mallard eggs and one of the ducklings looks like a silver appleyard duckling and I don’t have any sliver appleyard duck. Does anyone know why this happened?

Thanks

 

[ProudRedneck]

Hi

This year I hatched some mallard eggs and one of the ducklings looks like silver appleyard duckling and I don’t have any sliver appleyard duck. Does any know what is going on?

Thanks

Can you post a picture of the duckling for ID'ing?

 

[m7md22]

Can you post a picture of the duckling for ID'ing?

 

[ProudRedneck]

I can see why there's the question because of the diamond on the head but I don't think it's an SA...looks like a Golden 300 possibly. Are there any other breeds around that could've crossed?

 

[m7md22]

We have few mixed females, but all the males are mallard.

 

[Yardmom]

I have several duck breeds. We were surprised at how the crosses gave ducklings that look like breeds we don't have. We have a few that look like SA (only black is on the head and tail tip) We are guessing they are Pekin/ WH crosses. Your bird has its own unique look. Sometimes it is very surprising what feathers grow in.

 

[m7md22]

I have several duck breeds. We were surprised at how the crosses gave ducklings that look like breeds we don't have. We have a few that look like SA (only black is on the head and tail tip) We are guessing they are Pekin/ WH crosses. Your bird has its own unique look. Sometimes it is very surprising what feathers grow in.

Very true, I’ve heard that crossing different breeds of ducks like mixing different colours of dye. It gives a unique look.

 

[ProudRedneck]

We have few mixed females, but all the males are mallard.

If the females are hybrids themselves, unless you can trace their lineage, they could have been crossed with who knows what and perhaps further up the line there was an SA in the mix.