Which Duck Breed is Your Favorite?

     We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our backyard ducks.  They won't be here until June so we have a while to wait.  We need that time to get their house and run area built and ready for them.  While we are waiting, we are reading about the breeds we chose in our first online order.  We are getting tips from all resources we have available.  As we did with the chickens, we are just jumping into being duck parents and learning as we go.  So, I figured why not ask our followers?   Below you will see images of each breed and a small description of their temperament. These are not our ducks.  They are the various breeds that will be in our backyard soon.  (I do not take credit for taking the pictures. "Google Images" is the source for the photographs. The description of each duck is taken from www.meyerhatchery.com. I trust this source to provide you with accurate information regarding each variety of duck listed below.)  Use the provided  information to vote on your favorite breed. You don't have to own ducks to vote. You can vote based on your experience with each breed, appearance, temperament, or level of egg production...pretty much whatever suits your fancy!

  CAYUGA

Cayugas are named after the Cayuga Lake in New York. The history of the duck is unkown but it shows characteristics of a Mallard based breed. Their feathers can change colors throughout their life, gray colors can show up between 4 and 18 months of age. Cayugas are medium-weight ducks that have beautiful, iridescent, greenish-black feathers. This is a quiet, hardy breed that lays dark, grayish colored eggs.

Average mature weight: Drake 7lbs., Duck 6lbs.  

Hardiness:    Good

Personality:  Calm

Production:  130-180 eggs per year

Khaki Campbell

The Campbell was developed in the 1800's in England. Adele Campbell the maker of the breed selected for a large carcass size while maintaining egg production. By the 1920's this breed became recognized as the most abundant layer, laying around 340 medium size eggs per year. These beautiful ducks are a warm khaki color, similiar in tone to brown military uniforms. Adult drakes should have slightly darker brown head.

Average mature weight: Drake 4 1/2 lbs., Duck 4 lbs. 

Production:  220 eggs per year

Personality:  Nervous, Possible Flyer

ROUEN

These large ducks have similiar color and markings to wild Mallard ducks. However, these ducks are considerably heavier and do not fly. They were developed in France but the English influenced the Rouen into what we know today. The English increased its weight, changed its shape, and improved its colors. The production type are good foragers, calm, and have gentle disposition. They are known to wander far distances which can make them easy prey. Nice and meaty.

Average mature weight: Drake 8-9 lbs., Duck 6-7 lbs. 

Hardiness:   Good

Personality:  Calm

Production:  140-180 eggs per year

WELSH HARLEQUIN

The unusual look of these ducks originates from a flock of mis-colored Khaki Campbells. The Welsh farmer who first discovered the mutation began breeding for the unique color around the middle of the 20th century. A couple of decades later, the first hatching eggs, followed by adult breeders, were sent to the United States. Just like their predecessors, these ducks are great foragers and prolific layers.

Average mature weight: Drake 5½ lbs; Duck 4½ lbs.

Personality:  Very calm, non-flyer

Production:  150-200 eggs per year

    

Please feel free to leave a commnet about this blog post.  Helpful tips and suggestions from duck owners with experience are gladly welcomed. Don't forget...go to the poll and vote!  When the poll closes I will post which breed was voted the favorite among our followers.