Unknown Ducklings?

[55fingers]

Sorry if I posted in the wrong form. I'm still kinda new to this site.

Anyone able to identify these brown ducklings? We got them from Tractor Supply a little bit ago. I think they get them from Metzer farms?

I've looked all over their site and can't seem to see any breeds that look like this.

My best guess would be Golden 300 Hybrid.. but to me these look too brown and don't have enough stripes on their eyes to be that.

I also don't know what breed the yellow ones are, but for now I'm just assuming Pekin or White Layer.

Anyone have any idea what they might be?

 

[CayugaJana]

Hmmmm they sure do look like a hybrid. But I’m with you. The yellow ones are probably Pekin.

 

[Jetblack2004]

I agree, browns look like Hybrids and yellows look like Pekins. Very sweet!

 

[kumquat]

Yep, I'd guess Golden 300 Hybrids too. Those little two-toned feet are adorable!

Image from www.purelypoultry.com

 

[55fingers]

Yep, I'd guess Golden 300 Hybrids too. Those little two-toned feet are adorable!

Image from www.purelypoultry.com

That's what I thought, as we had a bunch of golden 300 hybrid babies last year from our flock and they looked similar, but these babies seem to be lacking prominent stripes on their eyes like the above picture.

If they are hybrids then we're pretty lucky to have picked them up, I think. These two were the only ones of their kind at Tractor Supply; the rest being these yellow pekins.

Whatever they are, they sure are adorable ^u^

 

[kumquat]

we had a bunch of golden 300 hybrid babies last year from our flock and they looked similar, but these babies seem to be lacking prominent stripes on their eyes like the above picture

Humm... I assumed that as hybrids the Golden 300s would not be expected to breed true to coloring in following generations, but maybe my thinking is off? Did you see much variation in your 2nd gen. chicks?

f they are hybrids then we're pretty lucky to have picked them up

Re: your lucky comment- It sounds like you have had a positive experience with the Golden 300 hybrids? How long have you had them in your flock? I'm curious if they are hearty or if they experience more reproductive health issues like high-laying chicken breeds/strains?


Keep us updated- it will be fun to see what the cuties grow into!

 

[55fingers]

Humm... I assumed that as hybrids the Golden 300s would not be expected to breed true to coloring in following generations, but maybe my thinking is off? Did you see much variation in your 2nd gen. chicks?

Yes, in following generations they did not breed true and we were unable to tell the gender by their coloration. I thought they still mostly stuck with their morphs, though, being either brown with mallard coloration, black, or yellow with a stripe. I suppose if they combined their morphs then it could be possible. But even at that, since these guys came from a hatchery (as far as I know), they should breed true to coloring, right? These aren't second generation ducklings. I bet I'm making no sense, sorry haha.

your lucky comment- It sounds like you have had a positive experience with the Golden 300 hybrids? How long have you had them in your flock? I'm curious if they are hearty or if they experience more reproductive health issues like high-laying chicken breeds/strains?

We had two Golden 300 hybrid females last summer that we raised from ducklings. They are definitely great layers. That summer one of our hybrids went crazy and sat on at least three different nests I believe (not at the same time). Every time she hatched them out, they would end up being adopted by another mother, or she would abandon them and we would finish their growth in our incubator. She was quite obsessed.

Our other female also hatched out lots of healthy babies, and was a great mother.
Sadly, they both were taken by predators in the winter, and their offspring were either sold or also taken.

However, we still have one of their offspring, my favorite little duck, "Warrior", who is disabled and has walking and vision issues and lives inside the house with us. She goes out to a pen every day, and temperament-wise she's the best duck I've ever had. Technically she isn't a full hybrid, as I suspect her father was a khaki, but I still consider her one.

Anyway, there was never any reproductive issues as far as I could tell, and they were always very healthy. They are great ducks in my opinion.

Sorry this was quite a long answer

 

[kumquat]

No apologies needed! I love that you took the time to write a detailed response!

Whoops- I think it is you who is making sense re: coloration vs. sex-linked coloration (what I meant, but didn't clearly say) at hatch. I was using the term "coloration" too generally.

Thanks for the info on your experience with raising Golden 300s - They are definitely sticking on my wish list.

 

[drumstick diva]

sorry I don't know much about ducks but, you ducklings are beautiful

 

[55fingers]

sorry I don't know much about ducks but, you ducklings are beautiful

Thank you, they are very adorable, and I can't wait to see what they grow into