Would you pay 40.00 for these calls?

[duckluck]

Actually, yes, you can tell at this age by voice, depending upon the individual bird, whether it is a cockerel or pullet. Some will have the voice at this age; I have one that I can tell for certain is a female and three that I can tell are males.

If you like them, I think they are very reasonably priced if you're talking $40 for all three as a group. If the price is for each, I'd say I'd like to see those two blue fawns a bit older maybe before I'd pay that. I don't care for black bibbeds, so I can't say what I would pay personally, but I think it's a good price if you like them. I'm a person who knows what I like and I am not easily swayed by the opinion of others...when I like something, I set out to get it. I once purchased and imported a horse against any advice my trainer could give me and it turned out I was right and the horse was and is a keeper. I liked her enough to go to the trouble of importing her and it was my money I was spending and that was the whole story for me. If I really liked these birds, I wouldn't let that scare me off. There's enough demand for Calls of any color or stripe that they will probably get their price.

I have heard that the hatching is going pretty rough for some Call breeders this year because birds are molting too early into the laying season and possibly some other factors. I wouldn't expect prices to drop as the season progresses, myself. Last year was a rough year for a bunch of people too, so if you like them, I don't know that I would hold out too long.

 

[CityChicker]

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[akcountrygrrl]

If you look at Holderread's website, they sell the adult show/breeder Calls for $38 ea (not including shipping). The Bantam ducklings they don't even list out in separate breeds but 50 ducklings from their SQ lines are $412 (not including shipping).

Someone up here has Call and Call cross hatching eggs for $30 per doz on Craigslist. Adults up here run about $25 ea for utility quality animals.

Anyways, just a couple things to chew on...

 

[duckluck]

Quote:
Yes, but sometimes it is important information to know though...so-and-so's line might be earlier hatchers or later bloomers than another's line, or they might be noted as better or worse for a particular trait, etc. This is information that I personally would want to know, and not just in ducks.

 

[Scott]

Quote:
I'm not sure I agree with you here. If the two birds that are paired up are pure birds from x person's stock/lines, then it doesnt matter who pairs them up and breed's from them... they are still from that breeders lines. I could go buy a pair of calls from some breeder.... the resulting offspring from that pair are still from that breeders lines. Its the actual stock involved that matters, not the person that hatches and rears the resulting birds. Most of the top call breeders birds, those who have actually been breeding top quality calls for many years, their birds are prepotent and will continue to carry those traits. My point is this... it doesnt matter if I pair the birds or the original breeder pairs the birds, the resulting offspring will still carry the traits of that line and are of that line.

If you want pet quality call ducks as pond ornaments or pets, they are great as such. If you want typey calls with show potential, then start with the best lines. Personally, I want typey birds that conform to standard. Other fowl hobbyists have other goals or none at all and that's fine as well.

 

[CityChicker]

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