The Duck Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Pretty ducks and kitty.

 

[needlessjunk]

I was wondering if y'all would give me your opinions of my new drake. I wasn't planing on getting him but he couldn't be alone. The lady said he was a few months old and couldn't remember when she got him either Nov or Dec. I am thinking he is older than just 15 ish weeks. The female cayuga that came with him has areas on the back of her head where the feathers are growing back. I bet he has been mounting her for a while. He only had her so I'm sure she has been mounted and mated quite a bit. She asks for it too as soon as they get in the pool. He isn't too rough with her, just does his thing and then they both go right back to swimming and enjoying the water. Is that age appropriate for a 15 week drake or do you think he is older? Also he is much lower to the ground thand my other male pekins I had and seems shorter all around. His bill is also pretty light. Does that still make him a pekin? It doesn't really matter one way or another. It's also funny because my 10 week old females chase him and he is terrified of them. His buddy is now part of the flock but he run if one even looks at him.

 

[jtn42248]

He may not be a Pekin. He looks very much like what is sold as a Crested White Duck. See...
http://www.metzerfarms.com/WhiteCre...e Crested&BirdType=Duck&ID=CREST&CustID=19423
Several hatcheries offer the Crested White Duck. You will find a lot of information about crested birds with a simple Google request and you will find a lot of information here on BYC about them. Keep in mind that the presence of a crest is an indication of a genetic mutation and can present problems with offspring.

 

[needlessjunk]

He may not be a Pekin. He looks very much like what is sold as a Crested White Duck. See...
http://www.metzerfarms.com/WhiteCre...e Crested&BirdType=Duck&ID=CREST&CustID=19423
Several hatcheries offer the Crested White Duck. You will find a lot of information about crested birds with a simple Google request and you will find a lot of information here on BYC about them. Keep in mind that the presence of a crest is an indication of a genetic mutation and can present problems with offspring.

I know about the crested gene and won't be breeding him. So he was not my first choice as a drake due to that but I couldn't leave him by himself. I didn't realize that a crested could be considered its own breed. I thought that cresteds were just a crest on a regular breed so to speak. Like you have a crested pekin, magpie, ect.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I agree with jtn he may not be Pekin but gosh is he handsome, I hope you can keep him. Usually around 5 months the hormones get going strong so he is just doing what comes natural. Sounds like he is more of the gentleman type which is nice. As for being scared of the others is very natural mine are terrified of tiny ducklings and run for their lives if one gets close. Once he feel more comfortable he'll become king and have all those ladies in waiting.

 

[needlessjunk]

I agree with jtn he may not be Pekin but gosh is he handsome, I hope you can keep him. Usually around 5 months the hormones get going strong so he is just doing what comes natural. Sounds like he is more of the gentleman type which is nice. As for being scared of the others is  very natural mine are terrified of tiny ducklings and run for their lives if one gets close. Once he feel more comfortable he'll become king and have all those ladies in waiting.

I think we will be keeping him my husband doesn't mind him at all since he is so quiet and I will admit the poof is pretty cute. It's just so funny watching him run away, waddle really since he couldn't run to save his life, from my girls. In fact they chased him off when he was mating his buddy in the yard. They do fine all together during the day but I don't think we are ready for night together at all. Another week or two and I hope they work it out. Gives me time to make the house bigger. Now that a drake is in the mix I want to make sure they aren't too cramped.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think we will be keeping him

my husband doesn't mind him at all since he is so quiet and I will admit the poof is pretty cute. It's just so funny watching him run away, waddle really since he couldn't run to save his life, from my girls. In fact they chased him off when he was mating his buddy in the yard. They do fine all together during the day but I don't think we are ready for night together at all. Another week or two and I hope they work it out. Gives me time to make the house bigger. Now that a drake is in the mix I want to make sure they aren't too cramped.

I'm glad to hear it. I love my drakes they are really very sweet. even when they are chasing each other all over the yard.

 

[jtn42248]

I know about the crested gene and won't be breeding him. So he was not my first choice as a drake due to that but I couldn't leave him by himself. I didn't realize that a crested could be considered its own breed. I thought that cresteds were just a crest on a regular breed so to speak. Like you have a crested pekin, magpie, ect.

I was also surprised to discover that Crested White Duck is a "breed" recognized by both USA and UK associations. I have a crested Blue Swedish and two Crested Cayugas and they are too cute for words. I won't breed them because of the genetic thing but would not be upset if some of the Cayuga eggs I have in the incubator right now hatched out as crested. They are crested varieties of their breeds unlike the Crested White Duck which is its own breed.

I'm glad to hear it. I love my drakes they are really very sweet. even when they are chasing each other all over the yard.

I have a Khaki Campbell drake and two Cayuga drakes and they are all three the sweetest of the bunch. The Khaki has his harem of two Khaki females and a Blue Swedish female. The Cayuga's have 14 Cayuga females to bicker over but they don't. If one starts to breed the other runs over to cheer him on and make sure he is doing it right. More often than not the two Cayuga's drakes hang out together while overseeing the females.

 

[umm claire]

Hi there dont know if you still have your ducks as your last post was 2013
.If you do let us know as I have a dew questions as you livein my country lol .thx I

 

[mystry]

I read somewhere that adding ACV to their water can neutralize the effects of the acid? Just a though to maybe try or find out more info?