 |
Australian Spotted Bantam Ducks Such sweet tempered ducks!Text from American Livestock Breeds Conservancy follows: The Australian Spotted is a bantam breed whose weight averages 2.0 to 2.2 pounds. Its body is teardrop shaped and its legs are centrally located, making the body carriage almost horizontal. Heads are oval and moderately streamlined without the distinctively high forehead and puffy cheeks of a Call duck. (Holderread 2001, 32) The Australian Spotted duck's coloration is complex. Depending on the variety, the drake's head is green (Greenhead), blue (Bluehead), or silver (Silverhead). A white band encircles the neck, the sides of the body and breast are deep burgundy, and the center of the breast extending under the body is white. The middle of the shoulders and back is dark gray, wings are a dark grayish-brown , tail is light gray, and the tail undercushion is black. The bill is greenish-yellow, the eyes are brown, and the shanks and feet are orange. The Greenhead Australian Spotted duck's body, head, and neck are a fawn color, spotted with dark brown. The Bluehead and Silverhead's colorations are the same as the Greenhead's--except the Bluehead's flecking and spots are bluish-gray; and the Silverhead's flecking and spots are silver. (Holderread 1991, 2-3) |
|
These little ducks make excellent mothers! This silverhead duck is raising seven ducklings. She hatched ALL of them herself! |
 
Appleyard Ducks VideoIf the video playback seems choppy, let it run for a minute while you look at something else, then come back and start it over! |
Juvenille Silver Appleyard Ducks Text from American Livestock Breeds Conservancy follows: "This big, colorful duck was developed by Reginald Appleyard at his famous Priory Waterfowl Farm near Bury St. Edmund, England. His goal, as stated in a 1940's farm brochure, was to make a beautiful breed of duck, with a combination of beauty, size, lots of big white eggs, and a deep long, wide, breast." (Holderread 2001,66). Appleyards were brought to the United States in the 1960's and became available to the public in 1984. The American Poultry Association held a qualifying meet for their inclusion to the American Standard of Perfection in 1998, and officially recognized the Silver Appleyard Duck in 2000. The Silver Appleyard is a large, sturdily built duck that weighs between 6 and 8 pounds. This breed's carriage varies from 15 to 25 degrees above horizontal and its body has a "blocky" conformation. (Holderread 1985, 1)The drake's bill is greenish or yellow with a black tip, his eyes are brown and his head and neck are greenish-black, sometimes exhibiting striping with age. The breast, sides, shoulders, and flank on a drake are reddish-chestnut with white frosting and lacing, his underbody is creamy or silvery white and his wings are gray and white with bright blue cross-stripe. The tail is blackish bronze, and legs and feet are orange. The female's bill is yellow or orange with a black bean, her eyes are brown and all plumage is generally whitish with gray, brown, fawn and buff markings with a blue cross-stripe on the wings. The legs and feet are orange with dark toenails. (Holderread 1985, 3) "Currently, Appleyards are being raised for exhibition, pets, decoration, eggs, and gourmet roasting ducks." (Holderread 2001, 66) They are one of the best layers among the heavyweight ducks, averaging 220 to 265 white shelled eggs per year. (Holderread 1985, 1) Appleyard meat is lean and flavorful. They are active foragers with calm temperaments and will tend to stay close to home if well fed. (Holderread 2001, 65) When choosing Appleyards to breed, select robust, active, and strong-legged birds that have a record of good egg production. Many Appleyards are undersized, therefore select birds with big well muscled bodies while avoiding excessively large birds that will have trouble foraging, mating, and laying. ALBC's 2000 census of domestic waterfowl in North America found only 128 breeding Appleyards. While five people reported breeding Appleyards, only one primary breeding flock with 50 or more breeding birds existed. (Bender, 4) There is a critical need for more conservation breeders of Appleyards. Their excellent laying ability, meaty carcasses, and lovely plumage make them a great addition to any small farmstead or backyard producer's flock. Status: Critical. |
 |
Geese and Ducks So many and such characters! |
   |
Muscovy Mama and Her TWELVE ducklings! |
Another Muscovy Mama and Her FOURTEEN ducklings! |
|---|
Let's go this-a-away, hurry up!
Aaahh, a mud puddle!
Click Here For More Duck Pictures
Could we have a bigger dish, please?
What are THOSE little things?
 |
Pilgrim Geese Okay, I'm a goose and duck lover now! |
Mandarin Ducks VideoIf the video playback seems choppy, let it run for a minute while you look at something else, then come back and start it over! |
|
| Miscellaneous Animal Stuff | Shetland Sheep | More Animals | For Sale | Web Design | |