Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[TheChookKeeper]

I bought my two LOVELY ducks a little while back now, and they were sold to me as Silver Appleyards - however I am beginning to have my doubts!

 

My beautiful girls...

 

And just to celebrate that they have accepted their shiny new house after only 2 days, and put themselves to bed today...

 

 

Anyway, what is putting me off is the fact that Geraldine (with the dark head) has a yellow beak, whereas Alice (with the light head (in more ways than one!!!)) has a black beak (although the underside of it is yellow!)

 

I am also a little concerned that Geraldine may actually be Gerald. I thought I had bought 2 little girls... but alas I am beginning to think SHE, is a HE.

 

Any thoughts?

[lisa33]

No idea sorry.

 

But they are very lovely.

[gooner.girl]

afraid i can't help either but they are gorgeous. Love the photo of them 'in bed'

[rusky123]

No idea what breed, but they are lovely. Don't all drakes apart from muscovies have the little curl of feathers above the tail?. I am no expert but I think you might have named them right.

[xChicken04x]

Beautiful ducks. Yes you have a Silver Appleyard duck (Alice) and what looks like a cross breed, possibly has some Welsh Harlequin and Saxony in it.

I must admit, as soon as I saw your picture I thought 'Geraldine doesn't look female :anxious:' The dark head, green bill and white ring around the neck are all very suspicious. How old is he/she? At about 17 weeks, if he/she develops a curl on his/her tail, its a boy!

Alice is definitely female though, this is my Silver Appleyard drake:

Females have speckles, males don't.

 

xx

[TheChookKeeper]

xChicken04x - oh dear - As much as I love my little Gerald(ine), I am not sure I can keep a boy.

 

I was warned that I shouldn't keep 1 boy with only 1 girl. I also have chooks, and was told he would keep himself "busy" with them too

 

I fear I may need to replace him with a more female model?!?! Do you think that is ethical?!? Equally I can't really fit in any more ducks, so can't get a group of girls.

 

 

What do you think?

[xChicken04x]

It's a tough one. I would just wait and see, I'm not 100% sure Geraldine is a Gerald. If he/she turns out to be male, then he might harass the chooks or he might not. Our drake only has two lady friends and he is fine with them, he only ever mates with them when their pond water is changed (once per day) I'm sure Alice would be able to cope with that.

 

It's up to you what you decide to do, if you can't give Gerald(ine) up then Alice should be fine with him/her or if your worried then could you squeeze one more in? You wouldn't have to have a whole group of females.

Or you could replace him/her, it's up to you.

 

Personally I would wait and see what Geraldine turns out to be and if he/she does harass the chooks/Alice then I would replace him/her.

 

xx

[gooner.girl]

I was worried my boys would harass my chooks but although they are smaller then your Gerald(ine?) they wouldn't dare! They have a girl each and avoid the chickens like crazy!

 

I would advise same as xchicken04x Wait and see what happens before making any hasty decisions!

[TheChookKeeper]

Thanks for your replies - most helpful!

 

I have been thinking about it a lot last night, and today at work (not a lot of work got done!), and by the time I got home, I had decided Gerald would have to go back to the breeder (if they would have him).

 

However, when I got home, I decided to go and spend some time outside with them, and it was like falling in love with them all over again!

 

I don't think I could get rid of my little Gerald, whether he be a HE or a SHE.

 

The chickens are penned in, whereas the ducks roam free, so it is only Penny who escapes from her pen every few minutes (!!!) who would be at risk of being attacked by an over-amarous duck! (you never know, it might teach her to stay where I put her!).

 

As for the other problem, of possibly not having enough girls to my boy, I was wondering about a round-about solution...

 

 

I always wanted Indian Runners, and had decided that I might get 2 in the Spring - but am wondering if I bought this date forward, would 2 two indian runner girls provide an alternative outlet for his amarous attentions???

 

I wouldn't be hatching any eggs they produce - it is something I would like to try, but I am assuming I could tell the difference between an Appleyard and a Runner egg? Therefore eliminating the possibility of "cross breeding".

 

What do you think? Is it a marvellous solution that solves the problem, and allows me to get my runners.

Or am I being an idiot?

[gooner.girl]

Sounds a fine idea to me - i have 2 khaki campbell females and 2 call duck drakes and they all get along fine.

[xChicken04x]

Personally, I think that's a great idea, you get the best of both worlds. Gerald(ine) gets to stay with you and Alice and you get the Indian Runners you've always wanted. Three ducks for a drake would be more than fine. I'm not sure if you will be able to tell the difference between the Silver Appleyard and Indian Runner eggs. Indian Runners usually lay blue or green eggs, but it depends on the quality of the duck, if not, they will lay a white/tinted egg. Alice will lay cream/white eggs.

You could always ask the breeder what colour eggs the parent birds lay, that way you will know.

 

xx

[TheChookKeeper]

Brilliant! I am MOST pleased!!!

 

We were worried about splitting them up - Alice (bless her, she's a bit dense!) depends on Gerald being around, she just follows him around, and does whatever he does!

If you can convince him to eat/drink/move/sleep, Alice will follow shortly behind!

 

You may notice that I have decided SHE is a HE now... so I may have some kind of breakdown if HE turns out to be a SHE!!!

 

Thank you both for all your help - what a whirlwind of a day or two!

 

You've been great, as ever!

[Janty]

Just a thought. I don't have ducks but we collected four runner ducks for Mum-in-law last weekend. I don't know how noisy your ducks are but her runner ducks make my chickens seem quiet, gentile angels. They were SOOOO noisy. I know that some breeds of duck are noisier than others. Would this be a problem for you?

[TheChookKeeper]

Not really sure - what are other peoples experiences of runners?

 

My chooks are pretty noisy - the ducks have an occasional moment of loudness, but generally only if something spooks them, or they get excited.

 

I'm sure I read something somewhere that the more girls you have, the quieter they tend to be?

Also, that having a boy around keeps them quieter?

[peanut12]

we had a similar problem - bought 3 indian runner when very young, all girls.

 

We now have 2 Runners - 1 drake, 1 duck and a Swedish Blue drake, but hey all get along fine so rather than take them back, we're just gonna get some more girls (real ones this time)