Domestic duckbreeds come in many colors and size . From tiny Call duck to largeMuscovy ducks , there is a stock to fit all your needs . So whether you raise duck for testicle , inwardness or pets , these breeds have you covered . While other strain of duck are available in the United States , this clause covers the 17 breeds recognize the American Poultry Association .
The APA disunite duck’s egg breed into four stratum : bantam , lightsome , medium and heavy . What weight course you choose largely depend on whether you raise duck for eggs , meat , exhibition or favourite . rent ’s explore the breed in each class to discover the best breed for your backyard .
BantamDomestic Duck Breeds
Bantam ducksare commonly raised for expo purposes or pets . While they lay a average scope of ballock , these duck are chiefly decorative . CallSHAWN HAMILTON CLIX / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Call : With their gravid eye and rubber duckstyle soundbox , these delightful duck have a big following . One of the two humble duck breeds agnise the APA , Call duck were originally bred to fit privileged duck hunting watch ’ pockets . With their gimcrack , persistent quack , Call ducks play as live decoys shout out in uncivilized waterfowl for the hunters to shoot .
After live steerer were banned from hunting practice , Call duck’s egg gained popularity for exhibition and house pets . These duck have a honeyed , endearing personality and love interact with their pet human .
As show birds , these ducks should count less than 2 pounds . While shout come in in many colors , the APA only make out Blue Bibbed , Blue Fawn , Buff , Butterscotch , Chocolate , Gray , Pastel , Snowy and White .
East Indie : Often name to as Black East Indies , this strain resemble a miniature Cayuga . Nicknamed the Labrador , Black East Indies have black plumage with iridescent nicety of unripened , blue and purple . The banker’s bill , legs and infantry are mallet fateful , and the eye are obscure brown .
As Black East Indie hens eld , bloodless feathers may appear . While an get on Francis Drake ’s body remain black , it may frisk blanched circles around the eye . blank feathering is a disqualification , so only unseasoned East Indies are used for showing purposes .
CallSHAWN HAMILTON CLIX/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
This breed has yet to bring in the popularity many other stock have due to their pathetic egg laying and difficulty breeding , and they ’re only maintain for exhibition purposes .
Black East Indies are substantial flier and call for their wings trimmed to preclude flying . This breed bask foraging and swim . The strain weighs in at 24 to 32 ounces . MallardOLLIETHEGAMER / WIRESTOCK CREATORS / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Mallard : The largest of the three bantam strain , Mallards are excellent mother and clean layer , producing 60 to more than 100 tinted , blue or green egg p.a. . Mallards are excellent fliers and will transmigrate if given the opportunity . Trimming wings and housing in enfold runs are the best way to keep these ducks from swan . Despite these characteristic , Mallards turn back to immurement rapidly and make friendly pets . mallard librate between 2 and 4 Sudanese pound and come up in two recognize colors : Gray and Snowy .
Before acquiring Mallards , check with your local wildlife experts to see if a licence is required to own , breed or betray Mallards in your state .
Lightweight Spotlight
Just like their name suggests , Runner duck’s egg extend rather than waddle . These delightful ducks are light to herd and are the first stock many herding dogs read to herd before moving on to larger stock .
democratic in the show mob , Runners arrive in several recognized colors : Black , Buff , Chocolate , Cumberland Blue , Fawn and White , Gray , Penciled and White .
Runner ducks can be uneasy but make ideal household pet when keep in small phone number and handled ofttimes . Hens are good level , averaging one hundred fifty to two hundred white eggs per duck .
East IndieBONNIE/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
LightweightDomestic Duck Breeds
These strain are the wiz testis layers of the duck globe , with drakes and hen weighing in between four and six pound .
Khaki Campbell : The most prolific egg layer , this duck’s egg rival the Leghorn Gallus gallus for ball - laying consistency . These lovely ducks are excellent forager and love life to eat insect . They tend to be nervous but can be tamed in small backyard spate .
Campbell must be fed a terminated well - equilibrise stratum ration to produce a lot of eggs . Francis Drake are vigorous breeder , so keeping more than one drake per mass is n’t advised . This duck is only recognized in the stock ’s original color , Khaki . Selbe / Flickr
MallardOLLIETHEGAMER/WIRESTOCK CREATORS/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Magpie : Believed to descend from the Huttengem duck , Magpies are a beautiful breed eff for their distinct coloring . The strain is recognized in two mixture : Black and White , and Blue and White . drake and hens sport white eubstance with black or blue caps hatch the top of their heads . The back is self-coloured black/ blue from shoulders to wingtips . When take in from above , the colored marker should resemble a heart .
magpie are eminent - strung and startle easy . They can fly minor distances when frightened , so their annex should be trimmed to prevent them from straying . hen are good layers of 200 mainly white eggs yearly . Welsh HarlequinERIN SYNDER
Welsh Harlequin : The calmest of the lightweight breeds , Welsh Harlequin hen are good testicle layers ( averaging 100 to 200 eggs annually ) and splendid mother .
Selbe/Flickr
While the Welsh Harlequin can be found in two popular colors , silver and gold , the APA only greet the Silver variety . Silver drake resemble Mallard drakes ; hens are silver white with black penciling and a dispirited wing speculum . This breed is calm and singular and loves interacting with their favorite human .
Middleweight Spotlight
Crested duck can be well recognized the giant pommy poms on their head . This crest of feathers is caused a good deal of fatty tissue paper grow out of a hole in the duck ’s skull . While a duck’s egg of any breed can be crested , breeders have cautiously choose ducks to multiply for this fancy feather - do .
Crested ducks are nervous and can be easy injured or bullyrag ( especially the Francis Drake ) non - topknotted breed . ward off barren - crop , as predators can easily foot off these ducks .
cap female are becoming bollock layer , bring on an average of 120 creamed - coloured eggs every year . The APA recognizes two varieties : Black and White .
Welsh HarlequinERIN SYNDER
MiddleweightDomestic Duck Breeds
Medium - weight duck are the twofold - purpose breeds of the duck’s egg world . These unfearing breed are less flighty and lay fewer eggs than their lightweight full cousin but do n’t grow as much meat as the heavyweight category , with hens and drakes averaging 5 to 8 pounds . BuffLINDA BESTWICK / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Buff : Buff ducks are the only poultry breed recognized by the APA to be name after its only color . Buff ducks are excellent mesa Bronx cheer and make reasonably salutary layers , producing an norm of 100 blanched or tinge eggs yearly .
biddy and Drake are friendly , gentle , alert and intelligent . They do n’t have any flying abilities and are ideal ducks to raise in a backyard . CayugaDALE CHESTNUT / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
BuffLINDA BESTWICK/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Cayuga : The main meat duck’s egg in the United States in the mid-19th century , Cayugas are an excellent board bird for those looking for dark nub . With their fateful feather , stage , bill and glum brownish eyes , these delightful ducks look like jumbo versions of the Black East Indies .
Cayugas are quiet , hardy hoot that lie with to forage . Hens are unspoilt layer , average out 150 eggs annually . Eggs start dark but quick fade to white throughout the egg - repose time of year . They only add up in a Black variety . SwedishANDERS GUSTAVSSON , HTTPS://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG / LICENSES / BY - SA/3.0/
Swedish : Swedish ducks are an orchardist ’s good friend . These ducks love to forage and are glad when allowed to free - scope in orchards and ley , trimming weeds and grasses , and feed on harmful pests . The downside to these ducks is that they can and will fly , so trimming their wings is necessary .
CayugaDALE CHESTNUT/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Swedish ducks produce superior tasting meat and are splendid table chick . biddy are good layers , averaging 150 white or greentinted eggs per annum . Blue is the only received potpourri , but you may also find them in black , silver and slosh coloration patterns . ”
Heavyweight Domestic Duck Breeds
The draft horses of the duck earthly concern , the heavyweight class , are known for their superb meat , tranquil and friendly temperaments , and willingness to brood and raise young . Heavyweight breeds average between 7 and 14 pounds . AylesburyMARILYN BARBONE / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Aylesbury : Aylesbury ducks look like Pekins with pale bills . Aylesbury ’s bill are pink or else of the promising orange bills most Pekins sport . These duck are calm , love to deplete and can easily become overweight . Hens are poor layer , averaging 30 to 100 white or green - tint eggs annually . White is the only mixture .
Heavyweight Spotlight
Often referred to as a Silver Appleyard , this duck is easily recognized by its chunky size of it and pastel Mallard coloring . Appleyards love to eat and can apace become fleshy . Allow ducks access to green pastures and head off overfeeding to prevent obesity . If fertilize a good timbre layer ration , hens are excellent layers of 150 whitened eggs annually . Appleyards are excellent mother and make idealistic kinsperson dearie .
One of the most difficult ducks to spawn , Aylesbury duck’s egg need access to swimming urine to breed . Never allow engender stock to become rotund . MuscovyDIETER76 / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Muscovy : The only domesticated breed recognized the APA not to arise from the Mallard , Muscovies are an strange duck . While most duck quack , Muscovies fizzle , croaking and coo . Muscovy ducks are also the only ones with au naturel tegument on their faces . This trait pull in them susceptible to frostbite in insensate mood . These ducks are know for their excellent sum calibre and incubation and mothering skills .
SwedishANDERS GUSTAVSSON, HTTPS://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/BY-SA/3.0/
Muscovy duck are an invasive species and have been banned in several state . Before acquire Muscovy ducks , turn back with your local fish and wildlife department to see if it ’s legal to own Muscovies in your expanse . Muscovy come in five recognized colors : pitch-dark , Blue , Chocolate , Silver and White . PekinANDERS93 / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Pekin : The “ queen of duck , ” Pekins have earned their popularity in egg and meat production . Pekins are loyal raiser and reach market size in 7 weeks . As egg layer , Pekin hens mediocre 100 to 200 white or tinted extra - large eggs .
When opt a syndicate deary , it ’s hard to beat the Pekin . Gregarious , talky , well-disposed and fun , these ducks imprint on their human folk as ducklings , creating a bond that will last their entire life . Pekins make out in one variety : White . RouenERNI / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
AylesburyMARILYN BARBONE/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Rouen : Bred several hundred years ago in France , Rouens were once democratic duck’s egg raised for their superb caliber dark meat . These day , this Gray strain is primarily maintain for exhibition , egg production ( hens lay an norm of one hundred and fifty white , blue , or green eggs annually ) , and PET .
Rouens count like large Mallards with duller markings and come in two diverseness strains : Production and Exhibition . Production Rouens norm 6 to 8 pounds , while exhibition Rouens bakshis the scale between 9 and 12 pounds . Both strains are calm , make undecomposed pets and involve swimming urine for successful genteelness . SaxonyGDMATTHEWS / STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Saxony : Albert Franz breed Saxony ducks in the thirties in East Germany to be fast - age table bird . While they are still consider a meat breed , Saxony duck are mostly observe as egg layers and pets in backyard flock . Hens are excellent testis stratum , producing an average of 150 white to dispirited - green ballock per year .
MuscovyDIETER76/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Francis Drake and hens have calm , quiet , and gentle personality and savor foraging . Saxony ducks are recognize in one unnamed variety .
duck are an splendid plus to any homestead or backyard flock . So whether you are elevate ducks for pleasure or lucre , turn over hear one of these breeds recognized the APA .
PekinANDERS93/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
RouenERNI/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
SaxonyGDMATTHEWS/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
