Ducks Poultry Breeds : Runner

The Runner ducks are the Leghorns of the duck family. They are prolific layers. Three hundred egg Indian Runner ducks were described and illustrated in the poultry press of 1912 to 14, and preceded the future for 300 egg hens which came later. In England, duck egg laying contests are carried on.

There are three varieties of Indian Runners, the Fawn and White, the White, and the Penciled. The breed has a distinctive type, the long, flat, straight head and long, slender neck forming, in shape, and umbrella handle and stem; the back should be long, straight and carried upright, and with the body should take on almost horizontal bearing. The type should be clean cut, there being little indication of a keel. The entire bearing should be upright and racey.

As would be expected in an active, profile breed of this kind, the specimens should not have too much size. The desired weights are: Adult drake, 4 1/2 lbs.; adult duck, 4 lbs.; young drake, 4 lbs.; young duck, 3 1/2 lbs. This breed originated in India, was introduces into England as early perhaps as 1830, but was little known in the United States prior to 1900. The Indian Runner produces a small to medium size carcass, but one of good quality. The ducks are practically non-sitters and are popular because of their prolific egg production which rivals the 200 egg stains of chickens.

Reference: 
 

All Breeds of Poultry, Origin: History: Description, Mating and Characteristics, by Frank L. Platt. Published by AMERICAN POULTRY JOURNAL, Chicago, Illinois.

Original Article Here

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Ducks Poultry Breeds : Rouen

The Mallard duck is the ancestor of almost all domestic breeds of ducks and clearly that of the Rouen. Though marked with the same color pattern as Mallards, with drakes having green heads, white collars, claret breast and a blue patch on the wing, Rouens are even brighter in color and larger in size than Mallards. The Rouen was developed in France and was admitted to the American Standard in 1874. It is still considered the superior meat bird in Europe, where much more duck is consumed than in America. In the U.S., Rouens are raised primarily for the restaurant market. These ducks are excellent foragers, calm in disposition and unlikely to fly. Drakes mature at about 8 pounds and ducks at about 7 pounds. Laying rate varies; some strains average 100 eggs per year and other over 150.

Status: Watch. The Rouen is one of the more common non-commercial ducks in the U.S. Its market seems to be growing since it produced leaner meat than the Pekin, the standard commercial duck in the U.S. Exhibition Rouens do not have the production qualities that production types do.

 Reference: 
 

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Box 477, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312
 

Photographs:

Watt Publishing, 122 S. Wesley Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 USA

 Original Article Here

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Ducks Poultry Breeds : Pekin

The most popular market duck in America is the Pekin. It is bred in one variety, white; and a creamy white plumage and orange shanks and toes are desired. The bill should rich yellow in color, and black in the bill or bean is a serious defect. Pekin ducks should weigh not less than, adult drake, 9 lbs.; young drake, 8 lbs.; adult duck, 8 lbs.; young duck, 7 lbs. The correct shape is of a long, broad, deep and full breasted type, to carry an abundance of meat. The Pekin breed is of Chinese origin, a country in which duck raising is extensively followed, especially in some districts. The first Pekins were imported to the United States about 1873.
 

Reference: 
 

Platt, Frank L. 1925. All Breeds of Poultry, Origin: History: Description, Mating and Characteristics. American Poultry Journal. Chicago.

 Original Article Here

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Ducks Poultry Breeds : Pommeranian Duck

Origin: From various European countries. They were named after the main breeding area, Pommerania, and have been bred since 1920 in Switzerland.

Characteristics: The Pommeranian Duck has a weight of approx. 2.3 to 2.7 kg; the drakes reach on average 3 kg. They are tireless snail hunters and despite their size not plump. Besides a good laying ability, approx. 150 eggs (70g) per year, the young ducks are very secure in all weather and at eight to ten weeks ready for butchering. Even perennial ducks perform well and often reliably raise a brood before the beginning of moulting in summer.

Endangerment and Distribution: Despite these virtues, the pleasing appearance (green-glowing black or blue-gray with a white breast pinafore) and their trustful nature, there are only a few breeders in Switzerland and Germany who purposefully take on this breed.

Goal: To find additional breeders for this breed who have the will to contribute to the maintenance of the Pommeranian Duck for many years. The breeding goal is the maintenance of good management and the marking (of the goose). These present some challenges for the breeder.

 Reference: 
  Endangered Domestic Animal Breeds 1995, Pro Specie Rara, Engelgasse 12a, CH-9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland, Telefon 071/222 74 20, Fax 071/223 74 01. German Translation provided by John te Velde, Associate Professor of German, Oklahoma State University

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Ducks Poultry Breeds : Orpington

The Buff Orpington duck, sometimes called the Buff duck, is of English origin. The color should be buff or it is sometimes described as seal brown or rich fawn. These ducks should follow the Pekin in size and shape.

 Reference:  

All Breeds of Poultry, Origin: History: Description, Mating and Characteristics, by Frank L. Platt. Published by AMERICAN POULTRY JOURNAL, Chicago, Illinois.

 Original Article Here

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Ducks Poultry Breeds : Muscovy

Originating from Brazil, Muscovies are the only domestic ducks that is not derived from mallard stock. Wild muscovies coloration is black and white, but domestication has produced many different colors. These colors are; blue, blue and white, chocolate, chocolate and white, white, black, black and white, lavender, and calical. The males can grow to be quite large, weighing 10-15 lbs. Most of the females are 5-7 pounds but can reach up to 9 and sometimes 10 lbs. Their feet are equipt with strong sharp claws for grabbing tree branches and roosting. Muscovys are unique because of their bright red crest around their eyes and above the beak. They do not swim much because their oil glands are under developed compared to most ducks. Muscovy hens can set three times a year, and the egg clutches can vary from 8 to 21 eggs. The egg are incubated for 35 days.

Photographs:

Jan Townsend

Robert Hockey

 Original Article Here

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Ducks Poultry Breeds : Khaki Campbell

The Khaki Campbell was developed in England during the early 1900's by Adele Campbell. It was admitted to the American Standard in 1941. Though originally a cross ofIndian Runner, Mallard, and Rouen, Campbells exceed all of these and most chicken breeds in egg production, with some strains averaging 300 eggs per year. They do not require special care or artificial lighting to produce a large number of eggs, which are white and weight about 2.5 ounces (not much larger than a Leghorn egg). Thought not usually raised for meat, Khakis make high quality, lean roasters of 3-4 pounds; they average 4-5 pounds as adults. Campbells are extremely hardy, are excellent foragers, and are at home on land as well as in water. They eat large quantities of slugs, snails, insects, algae, and mosquitos from ponds, but do not require swimming water to stay healthy. The ducks are mainly khaki colored and the drakes have greenish-bronze heads with brown-bronze tails, backs, and necks. They have green bills.

 Status: Minor. Though still not common, the Khaki Campbell is thought to be growing in popularity as an egg-layer and backyard duck. Exhibition Khakis do not have the same characteristics as production types.
 

 Reference:

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Box 477, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312

 Original Article Here

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Ducks Poultry Breeds : Crested

The Crested White ducks are probably of Pekin and Aylesbury breeding, the tuft of feathers on the head, which occasionally appears, having been recognized as a point of attraction, selected and bred for. The breed has not been extensively bred. The best specimens usually run about 1 lb lighter in weight than the best Pekin. In type they follow the Pekin.

 Reference:
 

All Breeds of Poultry, Origin: History: Description, Mating and Characteristics, by Frank L. Platt. Published by AMERICAN POULTRY JOURNAL, Chicago, Illinois.

 Original Article Here

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Ducks Poultry Breeds : Cayuga

The Black Cayuga is of American origin, and takes its name from Cayuag county, New York state. It carries the blood of the wild black duck, the Black East India, and probably some Rouen blood was introduced for the purpose of somewhat larger size. The Cayuga should be bred to the meat type. Desired weights are: Adult drake, 8 lbs.; adult duck, 7 lbs.; young duck, 6 lbs. Some Cayugas fail to attain these weights, and specimens of decidedly deficient size should not be bred.

 Reference:
 All Breeds of Poultry, Origin: History: Description, Mating and Characteristics, by Frank L. Platt. Published by AMERICAN POULTRY JOURNAL, Chicago, Illinois.

Images:

Steve Davis, Director of Marketing, Living History Farms

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