Altruistic Acres’ Waterfowl

With webfeet, a bill and waterproof feathers ducks are truly a fun and enjoyable animal type to have around. Let’s first define the word “Duck” as it is sometimes used to mean all ducks, both male and female. At other times it means only the female waterfowl; such as mating a duck and drake.

Wonderful Waterfowl

Duck PatternsSolidPiedBibbedMagpieAnconaMallard
Pattern DescriptionsSolid colour over the whole body.White bands behind the eyes and on the neck as well as a white rear end and tail, rest of the bird is coloured.Coloured body with a white neck and chest.Solid white duck with a coloured cap and a coloured mantle.Mostly white with varying amount of colour in irregular patches.Feathers on females are pencilled while feathers on males are stippling.
Duck Patterns

Duck ColoursColour Descriptions
WhiteThis colour is a pure crisp clean white. Although rarely a yellow undertone can be present on some individuals.
BlackThis colour is a rich deep black. It does have an iridescent beetle like sheen in the sunlight, varying from green, blue purple or violet hues.
ChocolateThe chocolate varies in shade but generally it is more of a milk chocolate tone. Sometimes a few random lighter or dark brown feathers will show within it.
BlueThe blue varies in shade but generally it is more of a slate-gray tone. Sometimes a few random black feathers will show within it.
SilverThis colour is a very light gray it is comparable to a dilute blue of sorts. It does have a blue undertone.  
LavenderThis colour is a deep purple-gray or a medium gray. It has a brown undertone. Sometimes a few chocolate feathers will show within it.
LilacThis colour is a lighter shade of lavender. It also has a brown undertone. Sometimes a few chocolate feathers will show within it.
Duck Colours

We are working on creating nice quality and beautifully rare coloured Call ducks. These cute tiny domestic ducks are known first and foremost as an ornamental breed since their original purpose of being decoys for bird hunters is no longer required. However due to this history they can be very loud for their size. Show quality calls should weigh no more than 1.5 lbs for drakes with the ducks being smaller. Call ducks come in a variety of colours including white, black, blue fawn, mallard, silver, apricot, magpie, ancona, pied and bibbed but we focus on pied in a variety of shades. A lively and talkative bird and among the cleanest of domestic waterfowl. Their friendly nature makes them excellent as pets. They are fair layers of about 50-150 eggs a year.

Silver Bibbed

Call Drake

Tiny Egg

Call Duck

Black Magpie

Call Duck

Ancona ducks (the breed) are excellent layers, typically laying 210-280 white, cream, or greeny-blue eggs yearly, averaging about 260. If you leave their eggs in the nest they will go broody and are generally good mothers. They have a laid-back and subtle social hierarchy, they are very accepting of all flock members, even the least dominant, youngest or even other breeds of duck are respected in the flock. Though mildly talkative, Anconas have very distinctive vocalizations and often make better watch-dogs than geese. They have various foraging calls along with softer chirps of numerous sounds for more private, tender moments. These guys have female leaders which makes perfect sense because the females have far higher nutritional needs than the drakes do. Being the foraging leader is a rather complex role and is usually given to the more confident, outgoing and watchful female, she may or may not be the dominant female and she won’t always be out in front. Because of this anconas get an early start on foraging when compared to other duck breeds that are drake or male led. Each Ancona’s pattern stays the same through it’s life and makes them easily identifiable in the flock.

Chocolate

Ancona Duck Breed

Broody Mother

Ancona Duck Breed