Our new duck-trying to determine her breed

[veronicasmom]

This is Vanessa. We just adopted her today. She came from the MSPCA in Methuen, Mass. She was brought to them with a broken wing. The vets at the shelter decided that it needed to be amputated, so she had that done.
She's now here to join our flock. I'd love for someone to be able to tell me what breed she is.

Also, our drake is chasing her all over the pen. I've always just put the ducks together and they get along from the beginning, but the drake and the two hens are chasing her and harrassing her. We've been watching, and so far it seems normal to me. Should I be overly concerned? Will they "work it out"?

 

[Funky Feathers]

I'm guessing Silver Appleyard? Or some kind of Mallard cross? I got some that looked like her when I bred a White Mallard to a regular Mallard.

 

[veronicasmom]

I was told either Snowy Mallard or Silver Appleyard. Doesn't really matter, she is just here for to be spoiled and loved, but it would be fun to know.
She's pretty small, our female Runner is pretty small, but Vanessa is smaller. Don't know if that indicates her breed or age.
She is such a sweetie. The beautiful blue in her wing feathers doesn't show up on this post, but they are lovely.

 

[veronicasmom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsBjEcvUGa0

This is her story.

 

[Wifezilla]

Mallard cross of some sort. Maybe mallard x fawn runner?

 

[veronicasmom]

Oh no! Another thought! I actually figured she was some sort of a cross after looking at the Snowy Mallards and the Appleyards. She's very petite and those breeds look bigger. Her age was guesstimated at 3-4 years old, but who knows.
Wish she could tell me!

 

[CityChicker]

To me, she looks most like a Blue-Headed Australian Spotted (although she probably is *not* one). Some of my hens look almost identical to her. There is a picture of one on this page about half way down... http://holderreadfarm.com/photogallery/australian_spotted_page/australian_spotted_page.htm

I really think she is probably a mix of some sort, especially since she is so upright. There are several different ways genetically that you can get that color, so there are any number of possibilities. Based on her size, stature, and color- most likely would be Snowy Mallard or Australian Spotted mixed with Runner..... or there is the possibility that she is indeed a Blue Head Aussie. As I said, some of mine are almost identical in appearance. She is a beauty!

 

[veronicasmom]

Wow, she really does look like that, doesn't she? Even the same mottling on her bill.
She is a sweetie, she is fitting in well this am, or so it seems. She followed the others outside this morning, right into the pool.
She is so tiny though, it will be interesting to see if she is small because she is young, or she is just a little duck.

 

[Wifezilla]

Ducks reach adult size so freaking fast it is silly. I think she is just a little duck.

 

[veronicasmom]

Rats, I was hoping she was fairly young. That's the down side to adopting animals that were strays, there's no way to know how old they really are.