Strange ducks

[pressld2]

What on earth are these...?



Seen on the Thames at Windsor, the curled tail feathers suggest manky mallards but I'm not so sure. They're big, probably twice the side of a standard mallard, and what's that hair-do all about?

Dave P.

[wezwez]

Got a few of these types in my area without the hair-do, plus an all white mallard type which i'll post a pic of as soon as i alter its size. I was wondering are these hybrids or just over the top variations/throwbacks of the mallard?

Steve

[wezwez]

Resized my pic online very easy dont know why i didn't think of it before. Is this a mallard?

[RoyW]

All three are Mallards, male and what seems to be a female Cayuga types in Daves photo, both with the 'crested' gene, and a male White Campbell type in Steves photo (I may be wrong on the breeds though, and I don't think they would be prize winners).

The gene that produces the crests in Daves photo can be bred into any breed. It is a recessive gene which causes a skull deformity which is almost always lethal if two copies of the gene are present, but if a normal gene is also present the level of deformity is reduced, but prevents the feathers lying properly giving the crested appearance. The 'best' examples look like they have a pom-pom on their heads.

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by pressld2

What on earth are these...?



Seen on the Thames at Windsor, the curled tail feathers suggest manky mallards but I'm not so sure. They're big, probably twice the side of a standard mallard, and what's that hair-do all about?

Dave P.

These are punk-rockin' Mallards! \m/

[pressld2]

Thanks for the very comprehensive reply Roy.

My two look like a pair - the male with the curly tail, I believe - in which case...

Originally Posted by RoyW

The gene that produces the crests in Daves photo can be bred into any breed. It is a recessive gene which causes a skull deformity which is almost always lethal if two copies of the gene are present, but if a normal gene is also present the level of deformity is reduced, but prevents the feathers lying properly giving the crested appearance. The 'best' examples look like they have a pom-pom on their heads.

...means that, on average, each clutch they lay will result in 50% crested offspring, 25% uncrested and 25% dead!

Dave P.

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by RoyW

All three are Mallards, male and what seems to be a female Cayuga types in Daves photo, both with the 'crested' gene, and a male White Campbell type in Steves photo (I may be wrong on the breeds though, and I don't think they would be prize winners).

The gene that produces the crests in Daves photo can be bred into any breed. It is a recessive gene which causes a skull deformity which is almost always lethal if two copies of the gene are present, but if a normal gene is also present the level of deformity is reduced, but prevents the feathers lying properly giving the crested appearance. The 'best' examples look like they have a pom-pom on their heads.

A contender for sickest post of the day I think Roy. That is truly disgusting. Obviously a comment not aimed at yourself, but at the things we as a species are capable of.

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Deb London

Obviously a comment not aimed at yourself, but at the things we as a species are capable of.

Hear hear. We just have to meddle, don't we?

T2

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by pressld2

My two look like a pair - the male with the curly tail, I believe - in which case...

...means that, on average, each clutch they lay will result in 50% crested offspring, 25% uncrested and 25% dead!

That's about right. The advice given to breeders who want to produce 'crested' ducks is that breeding pairs should consist of one crested, and one non crested individual, so that 50% of the offspring have crests, and none have the lethal combination.

*note my correction to the text Dave quoted from my original post - a recessive gene would only show up in individuals with two copies of the gene!

Originally Posted by Deb London

A contender for sickest post of the day I think Roy. That is truly disgusting. Obviously a comment not aimed at yourself, but at the things we as a species are capable of.

Unfortunately it's certainly not the only thing that humans have bred into animals, without showing much concern for the health and viability of the animal concerned. Look at some of the characteristics of some dog breeds, and the types of health problems that are known to affect certain breeds, or the 'fat' twin-tailed breeds of goldfish that can barely swim properly.
For domestic pets if something is considered 'cute', or interesting, the actual standard of life of the individual is often ignored (at least with the crested ducks those with the double crested gene don't suffer too much, because they die as embryos before hatching).

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by RoyW

For domestic pets if something is considered 'cute', or interesting, the actual standard of life of the individual is often ignored.

I firmly believe that it is only a matter of time before it is possible to manipulate the genes of dogs and cats so that they never mature, and remain cute lil' puppies 'n' kitties all their lives. Somebody will make a fortune.

"PermaPup" anyone?

T2