TT:Ag Ext 99:04

by: Usam Stephen, Agricultural Officer 1

Breeds of Ducks
DUCK SPECIES The Muscovy Duck can have white, black and
grey feathers or a mixture of all 3 colours
Two different species of ducks are reared
(figure 1). This duck may be recognized by
locally. These are:
fleshy red swellings around the eyes and beak.
The Barbary or Muscovy Duck
This swelling is more prominent in the males
The True Duck
than the females. It is a hardy bird but has
BREEDS OF THE TRUE DUCKS limited breeding capacity. This is the most
popular breed of duck reared locally for meat.
There are many breeds of the true duck.
These include: It grows very rapidly. The male bird weighs
about 4 - 5 kg and the female about 3 kg at 12
Rouen Khaki Campbell
weeks of age. The female lays about 45 - 60
Pekin Indian runner
eggs per year.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MUSCOVY DUCK
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PEKIN DUCK

The Pekin Duck – This breed was imported

from China. It is completely white in colour
(figure 2). It is a meat bird which grows very
rapidly. The mature male bird weighs 4 kg
while the female weighs 3.5 kg at 12 weeks of
age.

Fattening is rapid, with the duckling weighing

2.5 kg at 8 weeks. This is the second most
popular breed reared locally for meat. The
female can lay up to 130 eggs per year.

Figure 1. Muscovy duck


Figure 2. Pekin duck
The Muscovy, and to a lesser extent the Pekin
are the two most popular breeds of duck
which are reared locally for their meat.
Another popular meat duck is the mule duck.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ROUEN DUCK
The male Rouen Duck is light grey in colour
with a green neck, while the female is
grey-brown (figure 3). The duckling weighs
2.5 kg at 12 weeks of age. The female lays
about 90 eggs per year. This duck is slower
growing and is a less popular meat duck.
Figure 3. Rouen duck
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KHAKI
CAMPBELL DUCK
The Khaki Campbell Duck is beige (khaki)
in colour (figure 4). It is noted for its
exceptional laying capacity of approximately
200 eggs per year and up to 300 for certain
selected strains. The duckling weighs 1.7 kg
at 10 weeks.
Figure 4. Khaki Campbell ducks
CHARACTERISTICS OF CROSS BREEDS
Cross Breeds - The first generation crosses
of the male Pekin (meat) x female Khaki
Campbell (layer) are generally used for
breeding. The offspring of this cross can be
crossed with either the Pekin or the Khaki
Campbell.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MULE DUCK
Mule Duck – This breed is a cross between
the Muscovy and any other breed of duck.
This cross is sterile and is only intended for
meat production.
 COMPARISON OF SOME TRAITS OF MUSCOVY AND PEKIN

CHARACTERISTICS MUSCOVY PEKIN

Origin South America China

Colour Colour varies from pure white, to White feathers and light yellow bill.
black, to black and white

Sound Soft hiss Loud quack

Tail Feathers in Male Straight Curled

Grazing Good grazers Moderate grazers

Water Tolerance Poor Good

Ability to Fly Can fly Cannot fly

Feathering Easy to pluck Relatively hard to pluck

Males are much larger (4.5 kg) and Males and female are approximately
Size of Males and Females grow faster than female (3 kg) in same size (4 kg) in 12 weeks
12 weeks

Cross Breeding Crossing with other ducks leads to Crossing with other ducks except
sterile off-spring Muscovy produces fertile off-spring

Egg Production Moderate 45 - 60 per year Good, up to 130 per year

Setting Good Poor

Incubation Period 33 - 35 days 28 days

For further information and advice contact your Extension Officer

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Published and Printed by

The Extension Training and Information Services Division
Technical Content reviewed by the Animal Production and Health Division
Ministry of Food Production
Trinidad and Tobago
First Published, January 2000
Revised April 2014