Show off your house ducks!

[AmandaVirginia]

Can someone please explain the crested gene some ducks have to me? It is super cute, especially on Call ducks, but is it dangerous?

 

[Amykins]

Can someone please explain the crested gene some ducks have to me? It is super cute, especially on Call ducks, but is it dangerous?

Yes.

 

[Amykins]

LOL. I'm wondering if she's like a duck we used to have that wouldn't eat if a human was watching but would eat just fine otherwise.

Ugh, mine are so finicky. Sometimes they'll only eat if I stand there, sometimes they'll only eat if I take several steps away from the food bowls, sometimes they'll only eat in the bathroom, sometimes only if I put it in the bathroom doorway, sometimes only in the bedroom. I swear they just do this to mess with my head.

 

[Ravynscroft]

"A bird in the hand..."

@Julie Bird new pic of Lady Grey...

 

[AmandaVirginia]

Yes.

That's what I was thinking. Why is that?

 

[Amykins]

That's what I was thinking. Why is that?

Oh, too many things that are heartbreaking to mention. For starters, the gene itself is considered fatal and many crested ducklings die in the shell. Even if they do make it to hatch, they aren't as long-lived as other ducks, because they can develop mental issues, seizures, or sometimes just die suddenly with no warning at all. That pouf is just feathers grown over a fatty tumor; the gene mutation does not cause the growth of tissue, but rather it causes their skulls to be deformed, and the tumor grows over it as the body's natural way to try and protect the brain. Females have it especially rough, because males will sometimes rip the fatty tumor off during mating.

Finally, much like Scottish fold kitties, they must NEVER be bred to one another, because their offspring will have severe skeletal deformities that result in the skull being completely open, so that the brain develops externally. 1/4 to 1/2 of these babies will die. You can still get 'normal' ducklings with two copies of the gene, but it is horribly risky and not worth inflicting that much pain on death on so many little lives. Many crested duck breeders will actually insist on doing this cruel practice, as they claim it creates a bigger and therefore more desirable pouf. For this reason, myself and many other duck lovers strongly advise against anyone buying crested ducks in the hopes that breeders will take the hint and put a stop to these terrible practices.

 

[duckies1230]

Oh, too many things that are heartbreaking to mention. For starters, the gene itself is considered fatal and many crested ducklings die in the shell. Even if they do make it to hatch, they aren't as long-lived as other ducks, because they can develop mental issues, seizures, or sometimes just die suddenly with no warning at all. That pouf is just feathers grown over a fatty tumor; the gene mutation does not cause the growth of tissue, but rather it causes their skulls to be deformed, and the tumor grows over it as the body's natural way to try and protect the brain. Females have it especially rough, because males will sometimes rip the fatty tumor off during mating. 

Finally, much like Scottish fold kitties, they must NEVER be bred to one another, because their offspring will have severe skeletal deformities that result in the skull being completely open, so that the brain develops externally. 1/4 to 1/2 of these babies will die. You can still get 'normal' ducklings with two copies of the gene, but it is horribly risky and not worth inflicting that much pain on death on so many little lives. Many crested duck breeders will actually insist on doing this cruel practice, as they claim it creates a bigger and therefore more desirable pouf. For this reason, myself and many other duck lovers strongly advise against anyone buying crested ducks in the hopes that breeders will take the hint and put a stop to these terrible practices. 

I never knew any of this. Anyone who would intentionally do that to their ducks is a horrible person, I'm sorry but oh my, it makes me want to cry. I've always wondered how they get the little poof.

 

[Julie Birb]

"A bird in the hand..."

@Julie Bird new pic of Lady Grey...

That is the little bitty cute bird of wonder that flies in the air and leads the flock. I am amazed. You look at her in all her adorable, cute, round, side eyed, sweet faced, webbed, small enough to literally fit in the palm of your hand ducklet of Callness and you have Lady Grey. She is incredibly adorable. I'd have to kiss her a lot!!!!

This picture is incredible, RavynFallen. Thank you for posting it and tagging me so I could see her.

 

[Julie Birb]

Ugh, mine are so finicky. Sometimes they'll only eat if I stand there, sometimes they'll only eat if I take several steps away from the food bowls, sometimes they'll only eat in the bathroom, sometimes only if I put it in the bathroom doorway, sometimes only in the bedroom. I swear they just do this to mess with my head.

Silly little birbs.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

"A bird in the hand..."

@Julie Bird new pic of Lady Grey...

She's absolutely gorgeous, Ravyn.

Edited to correct the spelling of Ravyn.