Ducks, Ducks, Ducks Marjorie Bender American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

Know your goals then pick the breed that best fits your needs

Cautions Most breeds of ducks are rare May be hard to find and obtain May be hard to find and obtain –ALBC can help Wide range in conformation and productivity Wide range in conformation and productivity –Test stock from different sources Lack uniformity Lack uniformity –Consider becoming a breeder

Lightweight Breeds Campbell Campbell Welsh Harlequin Welsh Harlequin Runner Runner –High egg production –Excellent foragers –Poor to Fair mothers –Flightier & Fliers

Campbell & Welsh Harlequin Closely related to each other Closely related to each other 250 – 340 eggs per year 250 – 340 eggs per year White eggs White eggs Campbells weigh 4 – 4 ½ #; Harlequins weigh 1 # more. Campbells weigh 4 – 4 ½ #; Harlequins weigh 1 # more. Very adaptable to a range of climates Very adaptable to a range of climates Obtain purebred stock that has been selected for egg yield Obtain purebred stock that has been selected for egg yield Campbells: WATCH category Welsh Harlequins: CRITICAL Campbells: WATCH category Welsh Harlequins: CRITICAL

Runner a.k.a. Indian Runner a.k.a. Indian Runner Come in many colors Come in many colors Most active foragers Most active foragers 150 – 300 eggs per year 150 – 300 eggs per year Herd-able Herd-able WATCH category WATCH category

Medium-weight Breeds Magpie Magpie Ancona Ancona Cayuga Cayuga Orpington Orpington Swedish Swedish –Dual purpose – eggs & meat –Moderately fast growth rate –Good foragers –Fair to Good mothers

Magpie & Ancona Closely related to one another Closely related to one another 210 – 290 eggs per year 210 – 290 eggs per year Eggs white, tinted, blue, green or spotted Eggs white, tinted, blue, green or spotted Magpie weighs 5 – 6 pounds Ancona 1 # more Magpie weighs 5 – 6 pounds Ancona 1 # more Best foragers and best layers of this group Best foragers and best layers of this group Dress cleanly Dress cleanly CRITICAL category CRITICAL category

Cayuga American breed American breed Once a significant dual purpose farm duck. Replaced by Pekin in 1890s Once a significant dual purpose farm duck. Replaced by Pekin in 1890s 100 – 150 eggs per year 100 – 150 eggs per year Eggs light grey, blue, green, or white Eggs light grey, blue, green, or white Weighs 7 – 8 pounds Weighs 7 – 8 pounds RARE category RARE category

Orpington a.k.a “Buff” a.k.a “Buff” Excellent dual purpose bird Excellent dual purpose bird 150 – 220 eggs per year 150 – 220 eggs per year Eggs white or tinted Eggs white or tinted Weighs 7 – 8 pounds Weighs 7 – 8 pounds Dress well Dress well RARE category RARE category

Swedish 100 – 150 eggs per year 100 – 150 eggs per year Eggs white, tinted, blue, or green Eggs white, tinted, blue, or green Weighs 7 – 8 pounds Weighs 7 – 8 pounds WATCH category WATCH category

Heavy-weight Breeds Appleyard Appleyard Aylesbury Aylesbury Muscovy Muscovy Pekin Pekin Rouen Rouen Saxony Saxony – Meat production – Rapid weight gain – Moderate layers – Calm temperaments – Home bodies if well fed – Variable mothering ability

Silver Appleyard Most active foragers and best layers of the Heavyweight breeds Most active foragers and best layers of the Heavyweight breeds Purported to produce more flavorful meat w/ less fat than more rapid growing Pekin Purported to produce more flavorful meat w/ less fat than more rapid growing Pekin 200 – 270 eggs per year 200 – 270 eggs per year Eggs white Eggs white Weighs 8 – 9 pounds Weighs 8 – 9 pounds CRITICAL category CRITICAL category

Aylesbury 35 – 125 eggs per year 35 – 125 eggs per year Eggs white, tinted, or green Eggs white, tinted, or green 9 – 10 pounds 9 – 10 pounds White skinned White skinned CRITICAL category CRITICAL category

Muscovy 50 – 125 eggs per year 50 – 125 eggs per year Female 7 #; Male 12 # Female 7 #; Male 12 # Fly and roost Fly and roost Quiet breed – don’t quack Quiet breed – don’t quack Broody Broody Aggressive in crowded conditions; claws. Aggressive in crowded conditions; claws. Many strains – vary dramatically Many strains – vary dramatically Meat is lean; can resemble beef or ham Meat is lean; can resemble beef or ham Living wild relatives, native to Mexico, Central & South America. Living wild relatives, native to Mexico, Central & South America. Not rare. Not rare.

Pekin 125 – 225 eggs per year 125 – 225 eggs per year 9 – 10 pounds 9 – 10 pounds Popular market duck since arriving from China Popular market duck since arriving from China Hardy, rapid growth rate, high feed efficiency Hardy, rapid growth rate, high feed efficiency Calm temperament Calm temperament Readily available. Used in commercial production. Readily available. Used in commercial production.

Rouen 35 – 125 eggs per year 35 – 125 eggs per year 9 – 10 pounds 9 – 10 pounds Market duck prior to Pekin Market duck prior to Pekin Excellent roaster Excellent roaster Production & exhibition strains Production & exhibition strains WATCH category WATCH category

Saxony 190 – 240 eggs per year 190 – 240 eggs per year 8 – 9 pounds 8 – 9 pounds Active forager Active forager Adapt well to many environments Adapt well to many environments CRITICAL category CRITICAL category

Know your goals then pick the breed that best fits your needs