magpie ducks
That this breed is now getting the popularity and recognition it deserves in the British Isles is very pleasing to me as it has long been one of my favourites. It was in the 1970's that imports to the U.K. from our fellow member in the U.S.A. Darrel Sheraw again started a once popular breed on an upward curve again. At first folks over here were very keen but then realizing the problems of producing a near perfect specimen some fell by the wayside. Very near the start of my association 20 years ago I remember discussing them with Vernon Jackson. I recall his saying to me that we didn't need to have imported the stock as we already had the raw material in this Country. I had the two breeds and used a Fawn & White Runner drake onto a Cayuga duck with quite satisfying results. It has also answered for me quite a few of the recurring problems that happen when breeding Magpies. The lines under the eyes of ducks, the marks on the breast, the black branch down behind the legs, the lacing sometimes seen under the wings and the spotted beak turning to a cucumber colour in late life, all speak of the parentage.
They do also have a reasonable appetite and the drakes make good eating, the colour pattern meaning you don't get black stubs on the breast. They also have the advantage that you can select reasonably marked specimens at day old.
The history of the breed does suggest it was originated in 1918-191 9 period. In the 1921 Feathered World Yearbook it was reported how hardy they were, one breeder reared 285 In 1920 with only three deaths! An advert late in the book by Oliver Drake of Holme in Yorkshire shows a group of approaching 20 birds saying this new commercial breed has a flock average of 185 large eggs. Again in the 1923 Yearbook two photos of Magpies one of a drake and one of a pair appear, the latter purchased from Oliver Drake for Captain Greenaway - more of him later. As these plus Runners and Campbell's were the only breeds illustrated it showed how their popularity had risen.
By 1923 they were being shown in consistent numbers, at the Crystal Palace 20 in 2 classes. In Birmingham 2 classes mustered 17 entries. Now to Olympia where there were a number of Club Shows, including the Waterfowl Club, Buff Orpington, Magpie and Coaley Fawn (where did they go) 7 classes for Buff Orpington produced 1 13 entries. Again the Magpie entries in 2 classes were 20.
An interesting little aside in my research is that in the 1923 Yearbook a full page advert appears from the Abacot Duck Ranch owned by Oscar Gray, Friday Wood, Colchester and amongst his breeds listed are Magpie Ducks and Hooded Rangers (our original Abacot Ranger's)..........Old illustrations all seem to show one characteristic which is now under debate. The slightly dished bill has until the last year always been seen in the best birds and as I said before Captain Greenaway who became Lord Greenaway, came into the equation from another side in that his poultry manager, J.S. Parkin, brought the title Stanbridge Earls Poultry Farm with him to Kent when he came to work for Lord Greenaway.
From the white sports of the Magpie they developed the Stanbridge Whites, a utility white duck which had a slightly dished bill. Over the last 20 years or so it was fairly easy to spot 'White Campbell's" which were not so and which had the aforesaid dished bill and if penned a green egg in the showpen.
Magpie Ducks as I said at the outset now seem to have again attained their former glories. Not only in the original Black & White but the Blue & White also which have been around since before World War 11. Dun & White have made appearances but no-one seems to have consistently bred for this one colour. We hear of Chocolate & White on the Continent also Lavender & White over here but this colour seems to be open to debate as the Blue & White is actually a fairly light blue. Congratulations to the breeders of the top class specimens being shown and also the judges with the courage to put up a marked bird, in contrast to a self-colour. Michael Hatcher
****Finally a tip for the newcomers to the breed. You can breed well-marked drakes from well-marked parents, but to get your ducks right you need somewhere around a 50% black marked duck to your perfect drake.****
Magpie Ducks are a modern breed originally from Wales that was bred for both its meat and its egg production.They are the most difficult a breed to produce a show quality bird. They are good broodies and quite long lived ( av 9 yrs). Originally a triple purpose:egg, meat, and show bird. Chocolate magpies
The markings are specific ie a cap on the head; white neck / front etc with a coloured heart shape on their back; thighs white
Country Of Origin;. ........Wales . An early 20th Century Breed mentioned from the 1920's onwards
Carriage; Similar to the Campbell ducks but a substantailly more well built duck ie useful for the table if needed
Purpose;... .......Eggs..Meat...Broody...a good utility duck
Egg Colour.....................green / blue ..large many now lay white eggs after crossing out. ***Could any one with a blue egg laying magpies for sale please contact Mike
Egg Numbers .............180 /200
Breed Defects. Legs and webs should be orange but often mottled; lack of cap ;Coarseness in markings etc
Breed Defects. .. . . . . . are that the colouring is virtually impossible to get to the Show Standards ie a high number of rejects including pure whites (originally a separate breed Stanbridge Whites) and that the bill discolours with age making it possibly one of the few breeeds that shows best when it is a 'point of lay'.
Breed Hints.... Kept as trio or more ie can be a family group
Weights; 5 to 7 pounds. This is an average size bird (weight of the duck: 2,5 kg; of the drake: 3.5 kg).
Breed Tip ****Easily sorted as a duckling as all white and mismarked ones can be weeded at birth ****
Flying . rarely flies a good back garden all rounder;
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Ducks/Mags/BRKMagpie.html
Blue above
Genetic profile. . Gene : Extended black . .symbol E . .Dominant.
Causes solid black pigment to be laid down in all areas except those influenced by genes for white spotting. Typical of the Black Orpington, Black Cayuga and Black East Indian. Evidence exists suggesting that extended black influences eggshell color giving it a grey tint.
.........Breeders
HICKS WATERFOWL WORLD / OSWESTRY / Tel 01691 655 635 weekends
Tel 07818 036 118 weekdays or grahamhickss@hotmail.co.uk
Rinke Berkenbosch, Dyfed 01437 563 309
Black, blue
Richard Collins, West Midlands 01922 405 388
Chocolate
Brian Gilbey, Essex 01621 829 629
Mike & Sylvia Hatcher, Berkshire 01488 368 014
Alan Kerr, Northern Ireland 01265 741 365
Colin Murton, Hampshire 01428 751 408
Black, blue, lavender, chocolate exhibition
Richard Sadler, Cheshire 07816 622 868
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