An ornamental medium duck defined by a pom-pom-like crest of feathers on the head, caused by a skull-gap mutation. Kept mainly for show and as pets; the crest gene carries serious welfare and lethality concerns that breeders must understand.
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Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
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From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
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Minimum
Duck shelter + run + pool
6 sq ft shelter + 20 sq ft run per bird, kiddie-pool water
Crested Ducks (7 lb) carry a lethal genetic mutation — crest = skull deformity; ~25% of chicks die in shell. Provide 6 sq ft shelter, 20 sq ft run, and a kiddie pool. Keep aware of neurological symptoms in crested birds (head tilt, stumbling) and breed crest × non-crest only.
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Recommended
Shelter + grass run + bathing pool
8 sq ft shelter + 50 sq ft grass + 100 gal pool, per bird
Walk-in shelter, generous grass run, 100-gal pool. Crested Ducks are calm and ornamental; their genetic burden means breeders should consider welfare-first culling of severely affected ducklings and never breed crest × crest.
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Ideal
Pasture flock with pond, ethical breeding
¼ acre+ pasture + pond, small flock + crest×non-crest pairings
Rotated pasture with pond and shelter, kept as small ornamental flock with welfare-conscious breeding (crest × non-crest, hatching 50% non-crested birds with full skull). Pet-only crested ducks live full lives on pasture and water.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
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Egg
Birds develop inside a hard-shelled egg incubated by the parent(s). Egg size, shell color, and clutch size vary by species; the embryo develops over days to weeks before hatching.
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Hatchling / Chick
Hatchlings are either altricial — naked, blind, and dependent on parents (typical of parrots and songbirds) — or precocial — downy, mobile, and self-feeding soon after hatching (typical of poultry and waterfowl). Down gives way to the first feathers.
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Juvenile / Fledgling
Fledglings grow in their juvenile plumage and begin to fly and feed themselves, though they may still beg from parents at first. Juvenile feathering is often duller than the adult and is replaced as the bird matures.
Adult
Adults attain full body size and mature plumage, and are capable of breeding. Many species show distinct adult coloration, and in sexually dimorphic birds males and females differ in plumage, size, or markings.
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Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Provide a dry, predator-proof house (about 0.4 m2 / 4 sq ft per bird) with deep bedding and a secure run. Standard birds fly poorly; bantams may fly. They enjoy pasture, shade, shelter and clean bathing water deep enough to dip the head, with a pool or pond appreciated. Because the crest can impede vision and balance, keep enclosures hazard-free and water shallow enough to exit easily.
Diet
Feed a balanced waterfowl/poultry ration by life stage, with a calcium-supplemented layer pellet for laying hens. Supplement with greens and foraged insects; offer grit and free-choice oyster shell. Ensure adequate niacin for ducklings. No special dietary needs beyond standard waterfowl nutrition, but neurologically affected birds may need easy access to feed and water.
Behavior & temperament
Primarily ornamental/exhibition and a friendly pet; also a fair layer of roughly 100-130 large eggs per year. Generally calm and personable. The crest is the defining trait and the breed's whole purpose, but it is not dual-purpose utility stock. Crested birds can show variable balance and coordination depending on the degree of skull involvement.
Health
WELFARE CAUTION: the crest results from an incomplete-dominant gene that creates a gap in the skull filled with fatty tissue. The gene is homozygous-lethal — breeding two crested ducks kills roughly 25% of embryos in-shell, and crested-to-crested pairings also raise rates of skull/neurological defects. Affected birds may have neurological signs, poor balance, seizures, wry neck or vision problems. The crest can also collect moisture/parasites and impair eyesight.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Never breed crested-to-crested: pair a crested bird with a non-crested (plain-headed) mate to avoid the lethal homozygous combination — about half the offspring will be crested. Cull breeding selections away from large crests linked to neurological problems, prioritizing welfare over crest size. Keep the crest clean and dry, watch for vision/balance issues, and provide hazard-free, easy-exit water. Many welfare bodies discourage propagating this and other crested/abnormal-conformation fowl.
