Apple yard runners

[matt]

Hi can any body tell me if its normal to have a apple yard runner with a crest?

I incubatored around 27 and 1 male and 1 female have crest, I do like it but not saw why and if its right for this breed?

Any info would be great as i will be picking out the best to keep soon and many be show.

Matt

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hiya

A crest can be seen as attractive but it is due to a mutation that causes neurological problems in a great deal of ducks that have it. The crest is actually there to protect a part of the skull that has not properly formed. I would not breed from these ducks, just enjoy them if they are healthy

I would suspect that somewhere down the line there is a crested gene that has snuck in somewhere and you probably don't have a clean line of Appleyards.

Good luck with them, would love to see piccies!
zo
x

 

[foxy]

Do you mean Appleyard ducks? Runners are a separate breed and yes, both can come in crested. As DDO mentions, crested are more vulnerable due to the formation of the skull. 2 crested ducks should not be breed together but you can mate non-crested to crested and 50% will express the crested gene.

 

[matt]

Thanks for that.. sorry I did mess that up, I have appleyards on the brain at mow.. silver runners..

matt

 

[foxy]

Thanks for that.. sorry I did mess that up, I have appleyards on the brain at mow.. silver runners..

matt

Silver runners...ahhh beautiful!

 

[matt]

They are growing on me but my saxony pair, I love. but I have just hatched three Aylesburys for a friend, and those duckings are the most friendly things I have come across.

As for the crest thing!
Does that mean I have a bad line, as on a percentage is only 7.4% having a crest out of 27?
And if so what is the way out of it?
New breeding ducks or adding new lines male or female?
Or is this some thing that cannot be got ride of in runners?

Sorry to be a pain

Matt

 

[foxy]

Hi Matt you have a ratio of 7.4%, this means only a percentage of the parent stock are carrying the crested gene in heterozygous form. It is also a lethal gene linked to birth defects if parents are carrying both genes (homozygous)
Out of interest, did you have any dead in shell at late stage?

 

[matt]

Hi foxy

There was no problem at all, a few that were not fertile at an early stage thats all.
Every interesting.
Do you Known if it is gender related?

 

[matt]

Sorry

So do Bali duck's carry this gene or is that a totally differant thing?