CALL DUCKS
Emory Penciled Variety
DUCKY FUN!
ALL ABOUT CALLS
Call Ducks are the smallest Domestic Duck breed. They were originally known as Coy ducks or decoy ducks from the Dutch word de kooi meaning 'trap'. Coy ducks were used to catch wildfowl. The tame ducks were fed at the entrance to great traps constructed in the form of a 'pipe'. Wild fowl were enticed down by the quacking (calling) of the tame call ducks, and then caught for the commercial market. Two key characteristics led to their modern development: they had to be highly vocal (hence ‘call’ ducks) to attract the wild ducks, and they had to be small and thus easy to carry. It was the Dutch decoys that introduced the characteristics so prized in these birds.
Calls were first standardized in Britain as one of the four breeds of ducks in the Standard of Excellence in Exhibition Poultry (1865). There were two varieties: the ‘white’ and the ‘grey’, the latter having ‘bill, legs, and plumage the same. Like bantam fowl, they differ from ordinary breeds in their small size. The shape of the head is also distinctive: ‘they are most esteemed when possessing a full round forehead, with a broad short bill.’ The origin of these dwarf characteristics in ducks is not known, although the Dutch artist C. S. Th. van Gink (1932) suggested that they may have been imported from the Far East alongside Japanese bantam fowl. It is believed that Call Ducks became popular in Europe around 1800.
From the original colors of White and Grey in the 1865 Standard, there are now nine standard colors in the UK and US. Several others are being developed by different breeders from the UK stock. These include the long-recognized Dusky, the Black, and color variants of the Silver. New Standardized colors of Calls include Mallard, Blue Mallard (Blue Fawn), Apricot Mallard; Silver, Blue Silver, Apricot Silver; Black, Chocolate, Bibbed and Magpie, Mallard Pied, White, and now the Dusky has been standardized in Mallard: Blue, Apricot and the Khaki (brown dusky).
Call Ducks become very tame and are a pleasing addition to your home and family. Children in particular find that because they are small enough to handle they become irresistible. They are easy to look after and are inexpensive to feed. Also they are extremely amusing to watch and will give you hours of pleasure with their inquisitive behavior.
We currently have very nice quality Emory Penciled Call Ducks. We have had a variety of colors in the past but specialize only in Emory Penciled variety now. Call Ducks are generally seasonal layers so we expect eggs in the fall through spring of the year. If you would like to contact us about our Call Ducks, please see information below or use our contact form. Thanks for visiting!
DUCKLINGS FOR SALE !
We sell straight run and sexed pairs. See pricing below.
If you are interested in ducklings you can call/text: 361.790.4398 (Dee) or 361.537.4201 (Gina)
Straight Run: $8 each
Sexed Pairs (1 male + 1 female): $10 per duckling
Individual sexed females: $15 each
Individual sexed males: $10 each
(We pinion all our ducklings unless specified otherwise.)
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Sorry, we do not ship eggs (at this time) or live ducks. Our Farm is located in Central Texas - pickup only for birds. Thanks!
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