Tufted Buff Geese

[muddywaterducks]

Does anyone have Tufted Buff Geese? Specifically from Metzer Farms? They say they are genetic diverse but they all came from the same breeder {Ruth Books} They bought out all of her stock. But I thought that Tufted waterfowl were inbreed. I mean, aren't tufted ducks inbred? Just wondering I was thinking about ordering from them in the spring. Wouldn't they all be inbreed if they all came from Ruth's Stock? Also, are they accepted in shows?

 

[Pyxis]

They're not necessarily inbred. Crested ducks aren't either - the cresting is a dominant gene that's brought about by a random mutation. Then it's passed on and any offspring that get a copy of it are crested. It also still happens randomly from time to time - as far as mutations go, it's a fairly common one.

Cresting actually is caused by a hole in the skull in ducks, and two copies of the gene is lethal.

Tufting is a different thing altogether. Tufts on geese are caused by balls of skin on the head, not a hole in the skull, and it's not a lethal gene. It also would appear to be dominant, since I can breed my romans to non-tufted birds and get babies with small tufts.

As to whether Metzer's stock is genetically diverse, I cannot say, but with careful breeding inbreeding isn't really an issue in poultry. Even line breeding doesn't cause issues when done properly. Plus, they may have outcrosssed to regular buffs at some point for more diversity. The best thing to do would probably be to ask them about it and see what they say.

 

[adriayna]

I'm going to respond here many years later. We purchased a tufted buff back in 2022, which I think is the last year Metzer was carrying them. She has multiple developmental issues--she has scoliosis of the spine, walks with a permanent limp, has a permanent crooked neck, and also is only 2/3 the weight she is supposed to be. Because of these things, I have to get her a birth control implant each year. If she lays even on egg, it messes up her leg and spine and then she can't walk and we have to spend a few months rehabbing her so she's healthy again.

So I think that there's something really wrong with these birds, genetically. Also, when I wrote to Metzer about this, they immediately refunded my full amount (even Shipping) and I suspect that they had a lot of other issues with that batch.

I do love my little Crookneck Honk, but I would never, ever recommend anyone get this breed.