BY;        Evy Avery, Call duck breeder extraordinaire
The smallest of the domestic waterfowl, the Call duck was so named
because of her especially loud quack or “call”. It’s believed this breed was
developed in Holland in the early 1800s. Their loud voice & small size
made them perfect little decoys for hunters. Carried in a pocket or
basket, they were tied in the marshes & used to entice migrating birds
down. This practice ended many years ago, but the toy-like little ducks
continued to grow in popularity among collectors. They are now one of
the top 5 breeds shown in this country.
Calls are hardy little waterfowl & easy to keep but are not the easiest
to propagate. The desired type has evolved over the years from the racy,
long bodied, long billed look of a Mallard to the short, round bodied, short
billed bird found in the showroom today. These traits have made breeding &
hatching somewhat more difficult than in other breeds like East Indies. With
good stock & patience though, the rewards are worth the effort.
When choosing breeding stock, be aware that the tiny bird you see on
Champion row, while adorable, often is useless for breeding. The tiny
ducks may not lay & the smaller drakes often don’t breed or are sterile.
Choose your breeders from birds that have the correct type & good
proportion but are a little bigger. Thankfully, many judges today are
taking these facts into consideration. They realize we may be breeding
the desired type Call out of existence by demanding smaller & smaller
birds.
When choosing the duck you want to show or breed from, the word to
keep in mind is “round”. The head should be round with a definite
crown or rise from the bill to the top of the head. The eye should be set
in the center, rather than towards the top of its head. The bill is short and
broad; the neck is short & the head carried back, not forward of the
breast. The body is short and carried level on very short legs.
The overall appearance is that of a chubby, little toy.About Call DucksThere are a couple of good books available on Call ducks. One is a
British publication “Calls & Other Bantam Ducks”. It’s available from
several poultry dealers. Another desirable book is the revised “Call Duck
Breed Book” by D. Sheraw. The American Bantam Association carries this
book as well at the APA-ABA Youth Program website store.
The National Call Breeders of America has a nice website that offers much
information. and, of course, there’s always the ABA Bantam Standard.
This will give you the correct information regarding type & color of the
accepted varieties.