Larkwell Valley (2023)

[Amer]

Okay, so that runner would be disqualified if I took her to a show?

If the white is in an area where you can't pluck the feather, yeah.
Inconspicuous white (white that cannot be seen from outside the cage like the tiny feathers on head hidden by other feathers) is just a defect. My brother raises black runners and we always grill him for forgetting to pull those.

 

[RossAcres]

Okay, and not to sound like a complete idiot, by crown do you mean the top of his head? Or is that part of the bill in ducks?

Yes, it's the top of his head. Think of where the bill hits the "forehead". You want the start of the crown to be abrupt and very round.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Yes, it's the top of his head. Think of where the bill hits the "forehead". You want the start of the crown to be abrupt and very round.

Oh, okay, that makes sense. Year, my other male might be a bit wider, I'll check when I get home. His bill is way long though

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If the white is in an area where you can't pluck the feather, yeah.
Inconspicuous white (white that cannot be seen from outside the cage like the tiny feathers on head hidden by other feathers) is just a defect. My brother raises black runners and we always grill him for forgetting to pull those.

Oh, okay. Personally I love the white, so no plucking here, but that makes sense for show. Same with rabbits, some people plucked stray white hairs since 3 together counted as a spot and would cost placings

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Really debating moving my Swedish along next spring. I originally got them to make silver Swedish, but now that I have blue runners, I can still get that silver color and I have other breeds I'd like a little more. I only have 6 (7 if I fix the one down at the barn for the white scovies) pens, so I have to choose carefully what I want to work on

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I know calls fly really well, will they fly up to nest boxes, or do they need them on the ground like other mallard types?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Looks like she's telling a joke to her sister

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Yes, it's the top of his head. Think of where the bill hits the "forehead". You want the start of the crown to be abrupt and very round.

Looks like my female has the most ball like head of the three. Her bill isn't as long as my pied penciled one, but it's longer than the pastel male.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Ladies, find yourself a rooster that will take in random babies that definitely aren't his when it's night time.

The marans hen has 3 babies. She had 9, but lost thebother 6 over 3 days. The remaining 3 are doing great, but 2 are dumb. They are always getting stuck in Wes' pen, and last night when it was dark, i found both tucked underneath him, nice and warm.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Ladies, find yourself a rooster that will take in random babies that definitely aren't his when it's night time.

The marans hen has 3 babies. She had 9, but lost thebother 6 over 3 days. The remaining 3 are doing great, but 2 are dumb. They are always getting stuck in Wes' pen, and last night when it was dark, i found both tucked underneath him, nice and warm.

This is the second time since he went into retirement that Wes has taken in babies that definitely aren't his (been in retirement, aka separate from ALL females, for almost 2 years now). He's always been a great dad though. Ever since I brought him home