Shaws call duck incubation thread (hatch a wonderful(worthless to Ralphie) dux thread)

[Pyxis]

I'm not sure if you all will find this interesting, but I did so I'm sharing it

My friend bought two pairs of 'snowy' calls from a breeder (I kind of cautioned her about it a little because they didn't look right to me). Both the hens have eye stripes, which is 100% NOT correct for snowy. Snowies should have the dusky phase harlequin gene, which obscures them.

Well, she hatched her first duckling. It looks nothing like a snowy, at all. Looks like a gray with too much yellow. I sent her pictures of my snowies and she sent the breeder of her pairs a picture of her definitely not snowy baby and they told her it was snowy, all their 'snowy' ducklings look like that, and that my babies looked like they were pastel

So I did some digging for her and uncovered these awesome posts about the genetics behind snowy...and appleyard. From reading, it seems what she has are messy appleyards.

Really cool posts to read about the genetic differences between the colors, and how that affects the differences in appearance, including the eye stripes.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/silver-appleyard-versus-snowy.308832/page-5#post-5288951

Start with the linked post for appleyard info and then a few posts down is snowy info.

 

[WVduckchick]

I'm not sure if you all will find this interesting, but I did so I'm sharing it

My friend bought two pairs of 'snowy' calls from a breeder (I kind of cautioned her about it a little because they didn't look right to me). Both the hens have eye stripes, which is 100% NOT correct for snowy. Snowies should have the dusky phase harlequin gene, which obscures them.

Well, she hatched her first duckling. It looks nothing like a snowy, at all. Looks like a gray with too much yellow. I sent her pictures of my snowies and she sent the breeder of her pairs a picture of her definitely not snowy baby and they told her it was snowy, all their 'snowy' ducklings look like that, and that my babies looked like they were pastel

So I did some digging for her and uncovered these awesome posts about the genetics behind snowy...and appleyard. From reading, it seems what she has are messy appleyards.

Really cool posts to read about the genetic differences between the colors, and how that affects the differences in appearance, including the eye stripes.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/silver-appleyard-versus-snowy.308832/page-5#post-5288951

Start with the linked post for appleyard info and then a few posts down is snowy info.

Interesting. I'm starting to understand some of that a little more, but still confuses the crap outta me. My first group of ducklings was such a mish-mash, I just kept the ones I liked, didn't really get into which one were closer to "correct". But now I'm starting to map out the things to work toward.
My young grey looks pretty good so far, the other one, 2 weeks younger, I think is dusky grey.

Oh, is it time for the males to go into eclipse? I noticed Jax is changing.

You may also find this thread helpful... https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-colour-genetics-mallards-derivitives.410593/

 

[shawluvsbirds]

All very interesting stuff! Just wish my small brain could understand/remember all of it
And ya I think it's about time for the eclipse molt. Duck is starting to change too.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Matilda's still broody. I gave her some duck eggs that Daphne laid, and am keeping a don't care, no worries approach. She can sit on them, hatch them if they actually survive, and whatever. If they hatch yippee, an if not I won't have my hopes dashed again

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Matilda's still broody. I gave her some duck eggs that Daphne laid, and am keeping a don't care, no worries approach. She can sit on them, hatch them if they actually survive, and whatever. If they hatch yippee, an if not I won't have my hopes dashed again

That's about all you can do besides incubate them

 

[GldnValleyHens]

I AM FURIOUS!! My poor Call duck lady emailed me just now, saying all her ducks have been stolen by some wicked, evil despicable person! Who would do such a thing? That person deserves to be arrested and thrown into prison!
She has a sweet little son who incubated and raised these ducks, trying to earn up money selling them. HE's devastated, and I am sick right now.
Not only do I not get any ducks, but they have none. I said they can still have Gilbert if they want him, the poor boy.
This guy stole her white drake about a week or so ago, and now came back and stole them all out of the coop!
Wow I have bad luck with Call ducks. It's been torturous trying to get my hands on some.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

 

[Pyxis]

I AM FURIOUS!! My poor Call duck lady emailed me just now, saying all her ducks have been stolen by some wicked, evil despicable person! Who would do such a thing? That person deserves to be arrested and thrown into prison!
She has a sweet little son who incubated and raised these ducks, trying to earn up money selling them. HE's devastated, and I am sick right now.
Not only do I not get any ducks, but they have none. I said they can still have Gilbert if they want him, the poor boy.
This guy stole her white drake about a week or so ago, and now came back and stole them all out of the coop!
Wow I have bad luck with Call ducks. It's been torturous trying to get my hands on some.

That's horrifying! It sounds like she might know who it is since she said he stole a drake last week too?

If I were her I'd be getting padlocks and cameras set up before getting any more ducks.

 

[WVduckchick]

I AM FURIOUS!! My poor Call duck lady emailed me just now, saying all her ducks have been stolen by some wicked, evil despicable person! Who would do such a thing? That person deserves to be arrested and thrown into prison!
She has a sweet little son who incubated and raised these ducks, trying to earn up money selling them. HE's devastated, and I am sick right now.
Not only do I not get any ducks, but they have none. I said they can still have Gilbert if they want him, the poor boy.
This guy stole her white drake about a week or so ago, and now came back and stole them all out of the coop!
Wow I have bad luck with Call ducks. It's been torturous trying to get my hands on some.

Wow, is she going to press charges? She knows who did it? At minimum, they were trespassing. That's horrid.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

I don't think she does know exactly who it is, but the guy must live nearby if he came back twice. I said she should guard the coop with a shotgun.
I hope the guy is caught. Some other person around here in the last year had their Golden Amherst Pheasants taken too. Lots of poultry thieves here I guess. She says she wants Gilbert, but wants to try and get him a girlfriend. I would think she's going out and getting padlocks and security.