Question about crested ducks?

[launius]

I have a crested blue Swedish duck that I am pretty sure is a female. I would like to keep her to breed until I can get my drake to duck ratio better but I am wondering the likelihood that the crest will be present in her offspring. I don't care for the crested ducks but unfortunately she is what I have right now. I ordered 5 blue Swedish ducklings as part a larger order from Stromberg's. They ended up sending me 6 and one happened to be crested. Of the 6 I am pretty sure I have 4 males and 2 females (one of which is the crested). I am still up in the air about one so my ratio could be 3 and 3 but I really think it is 2 females and 4 males. I am going to have to rehome a few males anyway but I would really like to keep the crested female for a short period but I don't want to end up with more crested ducks. Does anyone know the likelihood of the crest being pasted on to offspring? Thanks!

Here are a few pictures of her. Her crest is actually pretty small compared to some others that I have seen.

 

[launius]

*passed - sorry about that typo

 

[launius]

Anyone with knowledge of crested ducks that can answer this?

 

[Shikoba70]

Yes she can pass the gene on to ducklings. They are normally bred to a non crested bird. It is dangerous to breed 2 cresteds together as it can lead to major deformities

 

[launius]

So if she is bred to a non crested duck, I should still get some that are non crested? I don't want any crested ducks but if I ended up with a few crested then I could rehome them and keep the non crested.

 

[duckins]

No expert here but I have 4 white crested girls no accident I ordered them that way but have not considered breeding them even though my drakes are non crested. After I lot of reading on crested I would strongly recommend against any crested breeding even if with a non crest male. When breeding crested they say it has to be almost perfect science done by very experienced breeders or the results can be heartbreaking with babies born dead, deformed, brain out of skull etc. and I know for a fact even the ones that appear (normal) as with my one lady snowball she has neurological issues on occasion. They are beautiful ducks but were breed with a deformity to give them that pretty top hat. With all that being said I love the breed and would prob get a few more one day but, from a hatchery such as metzers and ducks for back yards I have purchased from both companies and was very pleased you can even choose their sex. If you are trying to improve on your duck drake ratio I would order from one of those companies b/c if you breed your own you may end up with a lot more drakes. If this happens can you rehome the drakes fairly easy?

 

[launius]

I can rehome drakes fairly easily. I have two different friends of the family who have both said they would take any extra drakes that I have. Neither has any ducks (drake or hens) at the moment and they both want some for their ponds. I know one has a good set up for security and I still have to check the other for that. I have advised them both to make sure there are no snapping turtles and made sure both know that they wil get only males. Both have said they don't want to breed so only males are fine...they only want some to "decorate" their ponds so I am not worried about rehoming extra males.

 

[launius]

My ducks are only 2 months and 3 months so I have some time before I have to think about rehoming. I am really trying to get my plan in place for when the time comes. She is a beautiful duck but I don't want to breed her if the vast majority of her offspring will be crested. If my chances are low then I would consider breeding her for a short time.

 

[duckins]

My ducks are only 2 months and 3 months so I have some time before I have to think about rehoming. I am really trying to get my plan in place for when the time comes. She is a beautiful duck but I don't want to breed her if the vast majority of her offspring will be crested. If my chances are low then I would consider breeding her for a short time.

She is really pretty and her crest is so small I wonder if her crest gene came a ways down her line you should be fine if the drake is non crest. Just research a bit and enjoy your guys they grow up fast.

 

[maineman]

I would say with a crest that small it's way down the line. but here is a good explanation of the gene http://www.faithvalleywaterfowl.com/crested_call_genetics.html