Which sex has more control over the turnout of the hatchling?

[Mrs. BJ Hensley Jr.]

I have Aconas and Cresteds. Which mix would bring a crested ancona? Male crested or male ancona? I have male and female of both.

 

[TK Poultry]

to my knowledge the crested gene is not sexlinked so I don't think it would really matter.

 

[duckyfromoz]

TK Poultry is correct. The crested gene is not sex linked. From memory cross mating between a crested and non crested duck should give you 50 % crested ducklings- with the other 50 % made up of ducks that do not have a crest- but may carry the gene.

 

[critterranch]

i like using a crested male over non crested hens. its much easier for the male to share his genes around. but if you have both i would just do two seperate pens of oppisites. crested male over non -crested hens. non crested male over crested hens.

 

[duckluck]

Quote:
I have also heard it theorized by a few breeders of crested Calls that using a crested female increases the possibility of brain damage to the female during mating, because of the male poking, grabbing and prodding the back of the head in the crest area with his bill during mating. Crested females often lose their crests during breeding because of this, so strictly for cosmetic reasons it's probably a good idea to use the crested male instead of the female, before we even begin to look at physical complications.

 

[Mrs. BJ Hensley Jr.]

Thank you all for your replies. I will try male cresteds over non crested hens. I do not know how normal it is but I have 35 ducks.

 

[dumb_cluck]

35!

 

[Mrs. BJ Hensley Jr.]

Quote:
I'm addicted to ducks. I keep telling myself that It's a good investment and they will make lots of money from selling ducklings but doesn't that mean I have to actually sell the babies.... and not keep them. I started last Easter with my first 5. between the ones I have now, the ones coyotes have ducknapped and the ones I actually did sell, I have had 78 this last year. In the next 12 months
I will probably have 10x that much come through my yard.

 

[critterranch]

my crested hen has a small crest maybe 2 inches by 2inches. it is completely gone for now my males have been mating her. i have heard about the brain damage that can happen from ruff mating but have never had it happen yet. hopefully never.
i hatched 14 ducklings non of mine turned out crested. kind of disappointed. i had a crested drake over 5 non crested. and my crested hen with a non crested drake. i marked eggs and hatched out 7 of my crested hens eggs. none hatched out crested .and the other 7 were from the other ones. going to do another go round in spring. hopefully getting crested next time.

 

[critterranch]

i had to sell my duckling i sold 14 ducklings for $20 on craigslist. i sold at 10 days old. too much of a mess in the house. plus i was dissapointed being not crested.