Breeds of domestic ducks with a tuft appeared in European countries about 300 years ago. They were the result of the crossing of local domestic breeds with imported crested ducks from China. Crested birds look very decorative due to the presence of a magnificent currant on their heads. Consider the breed of this decorative poultry and see how to care for it.
Features crested ducks
The main feature of the domestic crested ducks is the presence of the gene crested, which they inherited from wild ancestors. This gene has accumulative properties; therefore, blood is required for the preservation of the breed. 
However, even when breeding crested duck breeds among themselves, not all chicks are obtained with a tuft or it is not sufficiently developed. Selection of these beautiful birds is not easy and parents should be carefully selected.
Wild ducks were used when breeding crested chicks, therefore they turned out to be unpretentious and hardy poultry, but their productivity is low. But you can save on feed, the more these ducks perfectly forage in water.
Did you know? Duck eggs are used to make mayonnaise, sauces, biscuits, yolk put into homemade noodles. They have a specific smell and taste, greater fat content than chicken. Before use, they should be washed well with soap.
Breeds of Crested Ducks
Now in the farm can bring several breeds of crested ducks. All crested birds can be found in zoos or in the personal farms of these birds. Since the birds have little productive qualities, they are not industrially bred. 
They can be found on breeding farms that specialize in breeding these breeds.
Bashkir Crested Hoover
In addition to the tuft on the head, the breed standard includes a strong muscular body and a rounded protruding chest.
You will also be interested to learn about the peculiarities of the maintenance of such breeds of ducks as Hungarian, Mute Swan, Ogar, Gray Ukrainian, Indian Runner, Cayuga, Barn, Bashkir, Gogol, Blue Favorite, Mulard.
The appearance of the Bashkir crested hen includes the following features:
- short strong neck;
- slightly concave beak;
- powerful wings fit snugly to the body;
- legs wide apart;
- the color of the feathers can be white, gray, brown, black-brown and gray tones.
Productive qualities:
- males weigh 2.5 kg;
- weight of females about - 2 kg;
- The average annual egg production is about 60 eggs, but there are ducks that carry up to 120 eggs per year;
In this breed, meat with good taste is not fat, without the characteristic duck smell. Bashkir crested hens are well adapted to various climatic conditions and unpretentious.
Russian crested
The breed standard includes the presence of a fluffy, rounded tuft on the back of the head. These ducks have a strong medium build with a wide rounded chest and a wide taut tummy, without a fold. 
Russian Crested Breeds have the following appearance:
- thick dense plumage;
- the color may be of a different color, but the tuft will be somewhat lighter than the overall color of the body;
- duck legs are also covered with feathers;
- short tarsus painted in orange tones.
Productive qualities of the breed:
- drakes weigh on average about 2.5 kg;
- ducks reach a weight of about 2 kg;
- egg production is 50 eggs per year;
- eggs weighing 60 g
These birds are unpretentious to food and conditions of maintenance, can do without a reservoir. They are friendly and mobile.
Ukrainian crested
She has a standard for the breed of the crest, but the color is very similar to the simple wild gray ducks. 
External characteristics are as follows:
- curved neck with a white circular strip;
- dense plumage variegated colors. similar to the color of the mallard;
- legs are close;
- a larger build and weight than other crested hen.
Productive characteristics of the breed:
- males reach a mass of 3.5 kg;
- females weigh up to 3 kg;
- egg production about 80 eggs per year;
- egg weight is about 70 g.
The productivity of these crested ducks is somewhat higher than that of other crested hen. These birds are somewhat prone to obesity and their meat is more fat, but also tasty. They can fly, so they should cut the wings.
When taking care of ducks at home, it will also be useful for you to learn how to cut duck wings, how to make a nest and a shed for ducks, how to make an automatic and bunker feeder for ducks with your own hands, how to prepare compound feed for your ducks with your own hands.
Crested blacken
It is found in the wild along the coastal zones of the temperate zone of Eurasia. Because of its beautiful aesthetic appearance, it is often divorced to decorate ponds and lakes in parks. 
The external features of these crested animals include the following features:
- small body black in color with white spots on the sides and bottom;
- on a back and wings a small speck of white color;
- on the wings there is a still-white mirror with black edging;
- a small head in the back of the head has a hanging tuft;
- the beak is a grayish-pink color with a dark ending;
- feet of black lead;
- yellow eyes;
- torso length is 40-47 cm;
- wing size 65-72 cm.
The drakes on the nape of the neck have longer feathers, and the females have lighter brown plumage.
Productive characteristics:
- weight about 0.5-0.7 kg;
- egg production 20–27 eggs per year;
- eggs are greyish green and weigh about 56 g;
- meat with normal taste;
- the skin is suitable for fur, excellent quality fluff.
Females are very caring moms. Sexual maturity occurs one year after birth, sometimes two years later. The productive qualities are the lowest among the crested lions - they are infused mainly for decorative purposes; the presence of a reservoir is mandatory.Did you know? The nest of the tufted duck most often builds from grass and lines its feathers, which it pulls from the belly area. This bird dives perfectly to a depth of 3-4 meters, but on land it moves awkwardly.
Crested Ducks: tips on keeping and growing
In the care and maintenance of the tuft is undemanding. The main condition is the presence of a reservoir nearby. Free range for ducks is the preferred way of maintenance, it allows you to save up to 40% of feed.
These birds love to splash in the water, and the plants and small animals of the reservoir are great for them to eat. The owners in this case can save on feed for ducks. When free-range in the conditions of the reservoir you need to worry about the shelter, where they could sit out the bad weather.
Even if the river, pond or lake is not close, it will not affect the health and mood of the crested birds. They can easily be kept in an open-air cage, but then it would be advisable to build an artificial small pond or swimming pool where ducks will splash and clean feathers. 
In food, crested ducks are not picky, the following foods are suitable for them:
- vegetable greens;
- grass, algae and so on;
- whole grains (wheat, oats, barley, corn, etc.). It is also useful to give wheat, oats in germinated form;
- wet mash
- silage, various herbs in dried form;
- factory feed;
- boiled vegetables;
- fruits;
- food waste;
- crushed chalk and shells.
When growing crested ducks, selection should be carried out constantly, so that the breed does not lose its main feature - the presence of a well-developed tuft. Since the gene for the presence of the tuft is cumulative, for reproduction it is worth leaving the individuals with the presence of this trait in several generations.
It will not be superfluous to acquire for breeding breeding crested cods from the side to strengthen the breed. 
Ducks can be bred both naturally by incubation and with an incubator. Under one duck you can put from 12-15 depending on the season and, accordingly, the ambient temperature.
To incubate ducklings, you need to prepare nests of dry straw and hay, and sprinkle the bottom with sawdust. Chicks appear 27 days after laying eggs. So that the duck does not accidentally injure the babies, they are separated into a separate box or a box of cardboard.
Important! An incubator is recommended for breeding ducklings. Duck eggs can also be laid to hatch under another bird - chicken or turkey. These birds will take the testicles for their own, but the ducks will not hatch other people's eggs.
Initially set the temperature regime of 30 degrees. After all the babies hatch, they are given back to the mother duck. It is necessary to observe that she took them all to her, as in the first days the ducklings really need warmth. 
Daylight first sets at about 20 hours, and then gradually decreases to 12 hours at 30 days old chicks. Ducks are allowed to go for a walk with the duck already at 5 days in the morning and afternoon. In the evening they are left indoors.
Upon reaching 21 days, babies can already be left outdoors for the whole day, and can also be released with the mother to the pond. Independently visit the water, they can only after a month. If desired, ducklings can be placed in cages for the first 14 days.
For nutrition, it is desirable to develop a schedule and carry out feeding at certain hours:
- In the first 7 days, ducklings are fed 6-8 times a day, starting in the early morning and ending in the late evening. First, give shredded boiled eggs, low-fat cottage cheese, special food, and after five days, introduce mash, including with the addition of ground corn and wheat.
- After a week of life, greens are added to food. In 7 days the duckling should eat about 40 grams of feed.
- Gradually, boiled eggs and lactic acid products are replaced by grain crops and feeds of animal origin, fish and meat and bone meal, are introduced.
- At 14 days old chick needs 60 g of food. During this period, the diet consists mainly of greens and cereals.
Babies in weight gain fairly quickly - at 21 days the weight is about 500 g, and at 1.5 months - about 1.5 kg. In 2.5 months the weight is about 2.5 kg and the ducks can be slaughtered.Important! Experts do not recommend duck bread to eat, since it adversely affects its digestive system.
But for meat it is better to donate when cold weather sets in, since during the warm period the ducks have no problems with food - the reservoir gives them enough food.
When keeping ducks should follow the following rules:
- the room must be well ventilated;
- in winter, the temperature should not be below 5 ° C;
- on 1 square. about 4 individuals hold a meter;
- the room should be bright enough;
- monitor the continuous availability of clean drinking water;
- maintain cleanliness of the premises, feeders and drinking tanks;
- mash must be fresh, food residues should be cleaned after 30-40 minutes so that the food will not spoil and cause gastrointestinal diseases;
- if there are many birds, they are recommended to be divided into groups of 10-15 pieces, divided by partitions.
Thanks to unpretentiousness in food and care, the maintenance of crested hens is not difficult, especially if there is a reservoir nearby, moreover, their beautiful decorative appearance will decorate any yard and pond. They are recommended to contain both for decoration, and for the production of meat and eggs, but their breeding and the preservation of breed characteristics is not easy.
