runner ducks
HISTORY: These were introduced from Malaya by various ships Captains and were found in the Cumberland and the Dumfries area.Though references point to Malaysia and the East Indies, the Indian Runner was originally brought to England from India by a seacaptain to Whitehaven and presented to some friends in West Cumberland some time around the 1840s. The same gentleman imported a few more some years later. Henry Digby imported a few more birds in 1898. In Races of Domestic Poultry published originally around 1906, Edward Brown theorises that 'it is probable that the present-day Runner ducks are either directly or indirectly descended. Some early books also refer to them as Penguin ducks but the engravings are of somewhat chunkier birds . They were such good layers that by 1896 there was a special Indian Runner class in the Dumfries Show and the standard was recognized in 1907 when the Fawn and White was noted. By 1913 the Fawn followed and in 1926 the Black and the Chocolate. Cumberland Blue were also mentioned in various literature. Many early Asian travel books mention upright stanced ducks often kept on latticed bamboo over the Carp ponds as their cylindrical posture lent itself to an early form of Factory farming / Food Cycle; this is also shown in Chinese artwork . Three hundred egg Indian Runner ducks were described and illustrated in the poultry press of 1912 to 14, but the 200 egg is more common now with 100 being the least laid compared with a good laying chicken of 150 per annum.
Indian Runner ducks have 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 At present the Colour range is still expanding with the Black Chocolate and Blue often losing colour especially in females with age and the males succeptible to throwing odd white feathers after injuries /fights with other drakes. In solid colours such as blue/chocolate and black all young males should have NO white feathers they may appear from fighting but never from age .
Names:-Corritrice Indiana (Italy)Also known as Le Coureur Indien in France/Belgium. In Latin Anas platyrhynchos
Country Of Origin;......... Bali; Indochina /Malaysia
Carriage;. . compact and docile; often upset by dogs
Purpose;...........Eggs../ exhibition, soup or mini meals
Egg Colour ....................normally .blue ..large 70 g
Egg Numbers............. 100 /200
Breed Defects. .. . . White feathers in coloured plumage; EXCEPT white around the bill/ a sign of age in females; Dished bill; shoulders like Mike Tyson
Incubation:.. . . . . . . 28 days best incubated but will sit need a padded nest
Breed Hints..... . .Kept as trio or pair best as pairs
Weights;. . drake 2,3 kg- duck 2,1 kg
Info. . Mentioned in all the 1870's books as common/also in 1853 book
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Ducks/Runners/BRKRunners.html
....Breeders
HICKS WATERFOWL WORLD / OSWESTRY / Tel 01691 655 635 weekends
Tel 07818 036 118 weekdays or grahamhickss@hotmail.co.uk
Tony & Sue Axon, Devon 01404 822 459
Pearl Birch, West Midlands 01562 710 975
Fawn & White, Saxony
Julie Christopher, Wales 07790 065 553
White
Danetre School, Northants (June Wilson) 07904 001 758
Trout, Lavender
Mrs. E. Davies, Pembrokeshire 01437 532 585
Black
Tom Davis, London 07969 246 455
Black, Chocolate
Sandra Farrar, Shropshire 01588 650 390
White, Columbian Blue, Saxony, Fawn, Fawn/White, Black, Chocolate, Streicher, Apricot
Dianne Farthing, Suffolk 01359 230 805
White
Mike & Sylvia Hatcher, Berkshire 01488 638 014
Fawn & White (American), Blue, Chocolate, Black & White, Fawn
Jacquie Haylett, Somerset 01823 662 837
Black, Blue, Fawn & White, Lavender, Trout
Hicks Waterfowl World, Shropshire 01691 655 635
All colours
Alan Kerr, Northern Ireland 01265 741 365
White, Black, Cumberland Blue, Trout
Paul Meatyard, Somerset 01749 812 758
White
Alan McKee, Antrim 02825 651 284
Peter O'Loughlin, Co. Kildare 045 528 952
White
John Palmer, Essex 01708 348 088
(Ten colours)
Mary Reeve, Llangollen 01691 718 266
White, Black, Blue
Guy Richardson, Armagh 02838 841 134
White, Blue
Rosemary Sharpe, Monmouth 01600 713 868
Joe Singer, Cheshire 01270 759 358
head detail
fine on hillsides like good cover from the sun and wind
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