What's this beautiful duckling ?

[Duckfarmer1]

[QUOTE="Duckfarmer1, post: 21963292, member: 546746UOTE]. How old are your mallards? When I first got my mallards, I did a tonnn of research because I swore I had two hens and one non- producing drake. Found that on the internet somewhere. He/she had no curl...greenish head, and the brown feathers with wing patch. As months went on I watched this bird and kept insisting in my mind that it was a drake due the head but there was no curl...and the confusion went on. I kept reinvestigating on the net. Anyways...HE is now a full on drake. Beautiful..got the silver belly..and yes the tail curl. So, I absolutely don’t doubt you that your ducks look different, perhaps they are a mix? Perhaps it’s the different climate? Who knows... but, I’m asking the age simply to let you know that sometimes it takes a loong time for coloring to come in. But they are gorgeous and I hope they stay as they are!

 

[Metz]

[QUOTE="Duckfarmer1, post: 21963292, member: 546746UOTE]. How old are your mallards? When I first got my mallards, I did a tonnn of research because I swore I had two hens and one non- producing drake. Found that on the internet somewhere. He/she had no curl...greenish head, and the brown feathers with wing patch. As months went on I watched this bird and kept insisting in my mind that it was a drake due the head but there was no curl...and the confusion went on. I kept reinvestigating on the net. Anyways...HE is now a full on drake. Beautiful..got the silver belly..and yes the tail curl. So, I absolutely don’t doubt you that your ducks look different, perhaps they are a mix? Perhaps it’s the different climate? Who knows... but, I’m asking the age simply to let you know that sometimes it takes a loong time for coloring to come in. But they are gorgeous and I hope they stay as they are!

The 3 in the photos I took this morning are just a few months old, from the same batch.
I rescued the duck and the drake about 2 years ago from a filthy box behind shops and flats in Nicosia, payed the man and left.
Although she has sat several clutches of eggs, she has never successfully hatched any until this batch. 6 hatched 5 survived, but one disappeared a couple of weeks ago, maybe a dog or fox.
Hopefully more next year

 

[Miss Lydia]

Another successful rescue!

 

[Metz]

Gorgeous pics. One of my favorite breeds. And how did Muscovy get there please?

No idea but they are quite common here now. They do well here, I started with about 12 given to me 2 years ago and now have almost 60, with some beautiful colours.

 

[Miss Lydia]

60? Wow do you use them for meat or just for ornamental? I have had as many as 15 but now I am down to 5 mine are getting older to 12-8-7 are their ages. I’d love to see more pics.

 

[Metz]

60? Wow do you use them for meat or just for ornamental? I have had as many as 15 but now I am down to 5 mine are getting older to 12-8-7 are their ages. I’d love to see more pics.

Not sure what to do as we're getting too many Come and take some of ours.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d love too!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Those Muscovy love to brood an hatch don’t they. I still have 3 females laying at 8 yrs old and one was broody this past summer on Runner eggs.

 

[Metz]

60? Wow do you use them for meat or just for ornamental? I have had as many as 15 but now I am down to 5 mine are getting older to 12-8-7 are their ages. I’d love to see more pics.

Some pics

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are sure gorgeous! Any problem having many drakes ? Mine have 1/2 acre fenced to roam and I could never keep drakes together with out fighting I only ever had 4 at one time.