Bantam Ducks
If space is limited in your yard, think bantam ducks — 1⁄5 to 1⁄3 the size of standard ducks. “Large” for a bantam is less than 2½ pounds. All are beautifully ornamental and make sweet, sassy pets. If you like to competitively show, American Poultry Association recognizes three bantam breeds: Calls, East Indies and mallards. American Bantam Association adds Carolina Wood Ducks. Unrecognized breeds include Australian spotted ducks, silkies and silver appleyard bantams. Check them out!
AUSTRALIAN SPOTTED DUCK
Origin: United States
Colors/varieties: greenhead, bluehead,
silverhead; weighs 32 to 34 ounces
Eggs: Lays 50 to 125 small or mediumsize cream, blue or green eggs per year; very broody
Traits: Strong flier; docile, friendly, a great
forager, ideal for insect control
CALL
Origin: Holland
Colors/varieties: many; weighs 20 to 26 ounces
Eggs: Lays 20 to 50 small white eggs; nonbroody
Traits: Can fly but not very far; females quack loudly and often, making the breed not good for people with close neighbors
CAROLINA WOOD DUCK
Origin: United States
Colors/varieties: Brown with white markings most of the year, but males assume colorful plumage during breeding season; weighs 23 to 25 ounces
Eggs: Lays 6 to 16 small o -white eggs;
broody
Traits: Strong flier; claws on feet allow wood ducks to perch, self-reliant, a popular ornamental duck
EAST INDIE, aka BLACK EAST INDIE
Origin: United States
Colors/varieties: Black with a green
sheen; weighs 24 to 30 ounces
Eggs: Lays 30 to 80 small eggs that have dark gray shells early in the laying season, fading to white or greentinted as the season progresses; nonbroody
Traits: Strong flier; very active, hardy,
popular pet
MALLARD
Origin: domesticated in antiquity
Colors/varieties: Gray and snowy wild mallard coloration; weighs 36 to 40 ounces
Eggs: Lays 20 to 50 small to medium
white to bluish-tinted eggs; broody
Traits: Strong flier; hardy, self-reliant, an
excellent forager
SILKIE
Origin: United States
Colors/varieties: Black, white, dusky, snowy, gray, more; weighs 30 to 38 ounces
Eggs: Lays variable number of small o white to greenish-tinted eggs; broody
Traits: Nonflier; unusual silky plumage,
tame and friendly
SILVER APPLEYARD BANTAM
Origin: England
Colors/varieties: modified mallard (colored like full-size silver appleyard); weighs 30 to 36 ounces
Eggs: Lays 50 to 80 small white eggs;
broody, outstanding mother
Traits: Can fly but not far; tame and
friendly
SAXONY
Developed in Germany but ravaged by the effects of World War II, the Saxony proved its resilience by being recognized as a breed in Germany in the 1950s. Males boast a color pattern similar to that of the Mallard, while female Saxony ducks exhibit an attractive shade of buff.
Purpose: meat, eggs, pets, exhibition
APA Category: Heavy, weighs 7 to 9
pounds
Origin: Germany
Conservation Priority List: Threatened
Colors/varieties: only one
Eggs: 190 to 240 white, blue-green, large to
extra large
Traits: docile, friendly; active forager;
winter layer
SWEDISH, AKA BLUE SWEDISH
Blue is the only variety recognized by APA, but Swedish also come in black, silver and splashed color patterns. This is an excellent all-around duck: attractive, meaty and a reliable layer of large eggs. They are fast-maturing, plump, easygoing ducks. Daffy Duck is said to be a black Swedish duck.
Purpose: meat, eggs, ornamental
APA Category: Medium; weighs 6.5 to 8 lb.
Origin: Pomerania (parts of modern-day
Germany and Poland)
Conservation Priority List: Watch
Colors/varieties: Slate blue with a white bib
Eggs: Lays 100 to 150 large white, tinted or
green eggs; sometimes broody
Traits: nonflier; calm, active, doesn’t do
well in confinement, a very good forager
WELSH HARLEQUIN
The Welsh Harlequin hails from the land of Wales. This breed descends from a mutation of the Khaki Campbell breed and originated in the late 1940s.
Although the APA recognizes only the silver variety, a gold variety also exists. Predominately noted for its outstanding egg production — sometimes more than 300 eggs per year — the Welsh Harlequin also retains noteworthiness for its particularly broody hens.
Purpose: meat, eggs
APA Category: Light, 5 to 6½ pounds
Origin: Wales
Conservation Priority List: Watch
Colors/varieties: only one
Eggs: 240 to 330 large, white to tinted
Traits: docile, active
Sue Weaver was a long-time contributor to Hobby Farms magazine.