The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: goosepimple on April 06, 2013, 09:13:46 pm

Title: CALL DUCKS - info please
Post by: goosepimple on April 06, 2013, 09:13:46 pm
We have a wee black and white call duck arrived on our pond who is calling frantically for a mate.  Don't know if it's a he or she - it's calling all the time, but as it's the first call duck we've seen here it's  unlikely to get a mate.
 
Do you know if it would be a he or she?
 
Do you have any call ducks you could sell to me, we'd like it to stay, it's very friendly.  I'm in the Scottish Borders, will put an ad in Marketplace too.
 
Many thanks.
Title: Re: CALL DUCKS - info please
Post by: colliewobbles on April 06, 2013, 09:28:58 pm
If it is male then there will be very distinctive curled up feathers (1 or 2) on top of the tail.  If not there, then it's a female.
Title: Re: CALL DUCKS - info please
Post by: goosepimple on April 06, 2013, 09:33:28 pm
Thanks colliew, should have remembered that, we keep Muscovy ducks and they don't have the curly bit, I'll have a look tomorrow, thanks  :D
Title: Re: CALL DUCKS - info please
Post by: sokel on April 07, 2013, 06:13:37 pm
If its doing a loud Quacking it will be a female males like most other breeds make a much quieter noise
Title: Re: CALL DUCKS - info please
Post by: darkbrowneggs on April 07, 2013, 06:32:25 pm
They don't call them Call Ducks for nothing - that was their sole purpose in breeding - that they incessantly quacked hence "calling" in the mallard which could then be shot.
Title: Re: CALL DUCKS - info please
Post by: goosepimple on April 07, 2013, 08:46:39 pm
thanks all, 'it' is a 'she', wee black and white, happy little thing.  There's plenty of mallards around but they were there long before she arrived, they don't seem to like her although our Muscovy ducks don't seem to bother her or the geese so far but that may not last.  She's used to the routine that goes on here already so hopefully she'll find a mate, I may be lucky enough to find one for her.  :D