Hello there lflynn, love the look of crested ducks. I used to breed Calls and always wanted a crested call in the flock but never materialised. Hey ho!
Further to previous post, roddyc. I'd also read the crested phenotype being a mutation similar to say spina biffida. So calling it x and normal X the crested u have should be Xx, ie heterozygous for crested, looks crested but lives. xx is the homozygous, and dies in shell, develops without a skull! So if yours are Xx boy and Xx girl statistically 50% offspring will be Xx like parents, 25% XX, non crested and 25% xx not viable. Hence probably best not too breed crested with crested. Would be interesting to see their parent birds and maybe source a XX non crested.
Just a thought. Sure u all know that anyway.
Miss my flock. Rehomed them to simplify. Helped during this pandemic, dreadful business.
Role on peace and order!
Have a super day. Sarah