Assistance with Duck/Drake Identification

[VintopiaFarms]

When we bought our ducks, we were assured they were female, and were told they were Buff Orpington. Very positive they are neither female, nor are they Buff Orpington

I am bouncing between a few breeds. Welsh Harlequin, Silver Appleyard or a very rare chance they are Abacot Ranger (although, we would be really lucky if that is what they are!). Posting a pic or two for identification. I want to note, their bills are distinctly olive green w/black on the tip and their heads have a very pretty green sheen in the sunlight. They also have a dark blue color on their wings. They are still young, about 19-20 weeks.

Any help is sincerely appreciated! Thank you.

 

[ruthhope]

When we bought our ducks, we were assured they were female, and were told they were Buff Orpington. Very positive they are neither female, nor are they Buff Orpington

I am bouncing between a few breeds. Welsh Harlequin, Silver Appleyard or a very rare chance they are Abacot Ranger (although, we would be really lucky if that is what they are!). Posting a pic or two for identification. I want to note, their bills are distinctly olive green w/black on the tip and their heads have a very pretty green sheen in the sunlight. They also have a dark blue color on their wings. They are still young, about 19-20 weeks.

Any help is sincerely appreciated! Thank you.

They look like mallard drakes to me but I am not familiar with the types of duck you listed

 

[cheezenkwackers]

When we bought our ducks, we were assured they were female, and were told they were Buff Orpington. Very positive they are neither female, nor are they Buff Orpington

I am bouncing between a few breeds. Welsh Harlequin, Silver Appleyard or a very rare chance they are Abacot Ranger (although, we would be really lucky if that is what they are!). Posting a pic or two for identification. I want to note, their bills are distinctly olive green w/black on the tip and their heads have a very pretty green sheen in the sunlight. They also have a dark blue color on their wings. They are still young, about 19-20 weeks.

Any help is sincerely appreciated! Thank you.

Um, yes! I agree they are one of those, wish I could tell you which one. My first thought was Appleyard but I am not sure. Did you have them as ducklings? What did they look like before they got their drake colors? Did they have facial stripes?

 

[cheezenkwackers]

They look like mallard drakes to me but I am not familiar with the types of duck you listed

They do because all domestic ducks except Muscovy are bred from Mallards.

 

[Quatie]

They look like silver appleyards to me. Their weight may also confirm that. The appleyards are a heavy breed and the Welsh harlequin are a smaller breed. But that is not a guarantee.

 

[ruthhope]

They do because all domestic ducks except Muscovy are bred from Mallards.

But pekins don't look like mallards!!

 

[cheezenkwackers]

But pekins don't look like mallards!!

They have a mutation which prevents any color from being put in the feathers so the end up white but they still have most of the wild type Mallard genes. All the different kinds of domestic ducks (except Muscovy) are the result of different mutations which people liked and intentionally bred for but all came from Mallards. Some mutations made them bigger, some smaller, some with more color, less color, or no color, etc.. It is similar to how all dogs came from wolves but poodles don’t look as much like a wolf as a husky does.

 

[VintopiaFarms]

Ok, I also posted this question in one of my Homestead forums. The general consensus seems to be they are Silver Appleyard drakes. Thanks all!!

 

[joshua k]

I think they are appleyards

 

[MartinFamilyHomestead]

When we bought our ducks, we were assured they were female, and were told they were Buff Orpington. Very positive they are neither female, nor are they Buff Orpington

I am bouncing between a few breeds. Welsh Harlequin, Silver Appleyard or a very rare chance they are Abacot Ranger (although, we would be really lucky if that is what they are!). Posting a pic or two for identification. I want to note, their bills are distinctly olive green w/black on the tip and their heads have a very pretty green sheen in the sunlight. They also have a dark blue color on their wings. They are still young, about 19-20 weeks.

Any help is sincerely appreciated! Thank you.

The 2 colored birds are 100% male. Green heads and curled tail feather (sex feather). As far as breeds you’re on right track. My best guess would silver appleyard. I believe welsh harlequin would be a bit lighter in color but not always necessarily. Also the size seems a little larger as welsh harleys are not as heavy. Again not always the case. Could be a mix breed as well. If they were so set on buff then maybe it does have buff and just doesn’t show much. Genetics can be funny.