Domesticated duck

From Freepedia

The domesticated duck are kept for meat, eggs and down. Many ducks are also kept for show, as pets or as ornaments. Most domesticated ducks originated from the Mallard Anas platyrhyncha.

1 Breeds
2 Gender Differences
3 Farming
4 See also
5 Gallery

Breeds

There are many existing breeds with more being created today. Most domesticated breeds are descendants from the wild Mallard with exception of the Muscovy. Breeds are sorted into size classes. Below are breeds accepted by the American Poultry Association.

Bantam

Call
East Indie
Mallard
Australian Spotted

Lightweight

Bali
Indian Runner
Khaki Cambells
Welsh Harlequin
Magpie

Mediumweight

Ancona
Cayuga
Crested
Buff Orpington
Swedish

Heavyweight

Appleyard
Aylesbury
Muscovy
Pekin
Rouen
Saxony

Gender Differences

There are several ways to tell if a duck is a hen or a drake. They can be sexed by voice when their voice changes at 4 to 5 weeks old. Hens have a loud quack which ducks are known for. Drakes, however, have a raspy, quiet quack. Depending on the breed and variety, drakes have different plumage than hens. Day old ducklings can also be vent sexed but if done incorrectly can hurt or possibly kill the duckling.

Farming

Ducks have been farmed for hundreds of years. They are not as popular as the chicken. This is because the latter have much more white, lean meat and are easier to keep confined. Nevertheless, the duck is a popular and well known farm bird.

Ducks can be kept free range, in cages, or batteried. To be healthy, ducks should be allowed access to water, though battery ducks are often denied this. They can be fed on a seed mix though it is common for ducks to be fed bread.