Duck breeds for meat
Ducks breeds are commercially bred for meat. The majority of people enjoy eating duck meat. The American Pekin is the most popular meat duck in the United States.
There are numerous duck breeds around the world, but for commercial purposes, we would like to consider hybrid breeds with early maturity.
Let’s take a look at these 14 exotic domestic duck breeds that you can keep as pets or for commercial purposes.
Domestic duck breeds
Domestic duck breeds are domesticated ducks kept for breeding and meat production, and people prefer eating duck eggs to chicken eggs.
- List of domestic duck breeds
- Runner ducks
- Muscovies
- Call ducks
- Pekins
- Black duck
- Khaki Campbell
- Crested
- Silver Appleyard
- Cayuga ducks
- Mallard
- Harlequin duck
- Aylesbury duck
- Blue Swedish
- Rouens
1. Runner ducks
Runner ducks or Indian Runners are a subspecies of Anas platyrhynchos domesticus. Below are the characteristics and all you need to know about Indian Runners.
| No. | Characteristics of Indian Runners |
|---|---|
| 1. | They lay about 300 – 350 eggs annually. |
| 2. | Indian Runners stand erect |
| 3. | Indian Runners have greenish-blue eggs |
| 4. | Male ducks when matured weigh about 1.6 – 2.3 kg |
| 5. | Matured females weigh 1.4 – 2.0 kg |
| 6. | Indian runners have pink skin |
2. Muscovy duck
The Muscovy duck also known as the Cairina moschata originates from America. This breed of duck is known to have been bred by the Native Americans. Below are the characteristics of the muscovy duck.
| No. | Characteristics of a Muscovy duck |
|---|---|
| 1. | They lay about 190 eggs annually. |
| 2. | Muscovy ducks have heavy bodies |
| 3. | Muscovy duck has creamy color eggs |
| 4. | Male ducks when matured weigh about 4.5 – 6.7 kg |
| 5. | Matured females weigh 2.5 – 3.6 kg |
3. Call ducks
What are Call ducks used for
Call ducks are adorable to have as pets, and they are commonly raised as such. When it comes to domestic duck breeds, the call ducks are the smallest, which makes them extremely appealing to guests when they are out on the green field. An excellent option for recreational spaces.
| No. | Characteristics of Call ducks |
|---|---|
| 1. | Call ducks have a short neck |
| 2. | Blue large eyes |
| 3. | Orange becks with black spots |
| 4. | Average weight 1.5 kg |
4. Pekins ducks
Pekins ducks are a breed of duck that was developed in the United States from the mallard by George W. Pekin, Sr., of Rochester, New York. They were originally called “American Pekins.”
Pekins ducks are used for meat production and egg-laying. They are also used to produce down feathers because they have a high ratio of down to body weight.
The Pekins duck is a large bird that can weigh up to 18 pounds or 8 kilograms and stand 50 centimeters tall or 20 inches.
5. Black ducks
Black ducks are a non-native duck species in North America. Only Europe, Asia, and Australia are home to them. They are said to be the forefathers of today’s mallard ducks.
The black duck is a beautiful, graceful bird with a commanding presence. The wings and tail feathers have white bars, and the plumage is sleek and glossy black. The bill is also black, but depending on the season, it can be lighter at times.
6. Khaki Campbell
Khaki Campbell duck breeds are domesticated duck breed that has been bred specifically for their capacity to lay eggs. Khaki Campbell ducks are one of North America’s most popular breeds.
In the early 1900s, the Khaki Campbell duck was initially bred in England and the United States. W. R. Campbell, the breed’s founder, named it after himself and his wife’s maiden name, Khaki, which is derived from the Urdu word for “dusty.” The Khaki Campbell duck is one of the few breeds that can lay eggs all year and has a good hatchability and fertility rate.
7. Crested ducks
Crested ducks are a New Zealand native species of duck. The “New Zealand scaup” or “New Zealand white-headed duck” are other names for them.
“Heteronetta atricapilla” is the scientific name for the Crested Duck. It is one of the world’s rare species with its own genus. Because of the crest on its head, it was given the English name Crested Duck.
A Crested duck breed can reach 32 inches in length and weigh up to 2 kilograms. Their wing span is about 18 inches, which is shorter than that of other duck species. The color of their bodies ranges from brown to black, but they usually have white feathers on their head and neck, as well as a dark stripe down their back.
8. Silver Appleyard ducks
The Silver Appleyard is a domestic duck breed. They were produced in France in the 1920s as a result of crossbreeding Mallards and Rouens. They’re noted for their metallic sheen, which is a result of their Mallard ancestors.
The Silver Appleyard duck breed was established in France in the 1920s by crossing Mallards with Rouens. These ducks are distinguished by their metallic sheen, which is a result of their Mallard ancestors.
9. Cayuga ducks
Cayuga ducks are a domesticated duck breed that originated in the United States. It is a crossbreed between the wild Mallard and the Muscovy and is one of the most popular duck breeds in North America. Walter Paine created the Cayuga duck in order to create a breed with more meat on its bones than other varieties such as the Pekin.
The Cayuga duck is a huge bird, with males weighing up to 9 pounds and females weighing up to 6 pounds, with both sexes standing 18 inches tall on average. They have patches on their chests or rumps and are usually black or white (though they can be any color).
10. Mallard ducks
Mallard ducks are a waterfowl species native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, and fields are just a few of the places where they can be found. Mallards eat both plants and animals, making them omnivores. These duck breeds are usually observed swimming or walking on the water’s surface with their heads elevated high above the water’s surface. Although they have been domesticated for thousands of years by humans, they still have certain innate instincts and skills.
11. Harlequin ducks
New Zealand and Chile are home to harlequin ducks. Because of their vibrant colors, they are sometimes referred to as the clowns of the avian world.
The Harlequin Duck is a small diving duck that hunts aquatic invertebrates with a long narrow pointed bill.
It is one of only two species in the genus Histrionicus, and the Old World Diving Duck or Hottentot Teal is its closest relative (Anas Hottentots).
The Harlequin Duck has a tiny population, but because of its wide distribution, it is not considered endangered.
12. Aylesbury ducks
The Aylesbury duck is a domesticated duck that originated in the English town of Aylesbury.
George Wightwick, who lived on a farm in the nearby village of Wingrave, created the breed. He created the Aylesbury Duck breeds by crossing Peking ducks with Indian Runners. Wightwick wrote to the editor of The Field newspaper in 1832 to declare that he had developed a new type of duck, which was the first known reference to this new variety.
13. Blue Swedish ducks
The Blue Swedish Duck is a breed of duck originating in Sweden. The ducks are bred for their egg-laying abilities and come in different colors, including black, white, brown, and blue.
14. Rouen ducks
The Rouen duck is a French breed that originated in the city of Rouen. The Rouens have white primary feathers and black secondary feathers. Their beaks and feet are both oranges. Their wings and tail feathers have white spots.
The Rouen duck breeds are France’s oldest duck breed. Mme de Lespinasse, the daughter of a French ambassador to England at the time, imported the first Rouen ducks from England in 1873.
Read Here: Common duck diseases
Source:PoultryABC.com
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