welsh harlequin ducks


  History;  Breed Background: Bred from 2 sorts of Khaki Campbell stock The most brightly plumaged of the lighter breeds with an adult bird sized between the Miniature Appleyard and the Campbell .They follow the beak colouring of the Abacots with the male and female separately coloured which can help those not vent sexing the young. They are good layers and reasonable mothers and make good sociable back garden ducks rarely flying and foraging well.
 
Names . Known in France and Italy as Welsh Harlequin !
   
Country Of Origin;......... Wales Mentioned in all the 1870's books

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; .....................The eggs weigh 65 g and are white
   
Egg Numbers..............250 /300 if lucky 120+ if not

Breed Defects. .. . . check for bronze ie brown wing bars if blue or green not WH
   
Defects... . . . . . .the most nervous breed needs protection from foxes and dogs ie congenitally stupid but cute. . . I keep them with large slow chickens to calm them down

Breed Hints....Kept as trio or pair .. will go broody and hatch
   
Weights;5 to 6 pounds. This is an average size bird (weight of the duck: 2,5 kg; of the drake: 3 kg).

Breed Tip****Meat Production:(Drakes)Will reach table weight on food and scraps by 16 weeks then not put on nay weight until 2yrs +
   
Flying .rarely flies a good back garden all rounder;

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Ducks/Welsh/BRKWelsh.html

Appearance:Drakes, Bill, greenish blue Legs, orange Wing Bars,bronze green -

Ducks, Bill, greenish slate Legs, orange/brown Wing Bars, bronze green

Size: Drakes, 2.26 - 2.49 kg

Ducks, 2.04 - 2.26 kg

Needs: Dry bedding, protection from the weather and predators(very stupid as a breed); good food and water. Do not require water for swimming to stay healthy, but they do enjoy it. Placid docile bird not put off laying easily
 
Breeders:-

Hicks Waterfowl World. OSWESTRY. Tel 01691 655 635 weekends .
http://www.waterfowlworld.co.uk/

Alan Davies, Pembrokeshire            01437 721 433

Frank B. Jones, Cheshire            01270 811 682




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