Duck Breeds

From Mallards to Pekins, some of the ducks to consider for your backyard flock.
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Photo By: Image courtesy of Lisa Steele

Photo By: Image courtesy of Lisa Steele

Photo By: Image courtesy of Lisa Steele

Pekin Ducklings

Snow white Pekins start out as yellow fuzzy ducklings until their white feathers grow in. 

Pekin Power

Pekins lay nearly 200 large white eggs per year.

Feathered Friends

Unlike other breeds, full-grown Pekin ducks and drakes are both all white, but the drakes grow a curly tail which identifies them as drakes.

Pekin Triad

Pekins are docile and unable to fly, making them excellent backyard birds.

Duck Soup

The Pekin is the most widely kept breed of duck in the U.S. 

Saxony Duckling

Hard to believe that just two weeks ago this duckling hatched from an egg that small.

Saxony Ducklings

Ducklings need water just deep enough to keep their mucus membranes moist.

Saxony Drake

Drake Saxonies look like Mallards with faded color.

Saxony Trio

Saxonies are a large breed, weighing between 6-8 pounds.

Saxony Duet

The Saxony is a relatively new breed to the US, arriving in 1984.

Saxony Hen

Saxony ducks are fairly rare and near extinction with less than 500 living in the US currently.

Saxony Ducks


Rouen Duckling

Rouen ducklings look nearly identical to Mallard ducklings, although they are a far heavier and larger breed.

I Want to Be A Rouen

Rouens are not very prolific layers, managing only about 100 eggs per year, but they are very calm and docile, making them good pets.

A Rouen and Mallard Hen

A Mallard hen (right) and Rouen hen (left) have extremely similar coloring, making it evident that Rouens descended from the Mallard breed.

Mallard and Pekin Ducklings

Pekin ducklings grow much faster than Mallards, and the full-grown Pekin ducks will be more than twice as heavy as full-grown Mallards.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Domestic mallards love to eat plants, insects and bug larvae.

Mallard Hen

Mallards are one of the few domestic breeds that are able to fly.

Khaki Campbell Hen

Khaki Campbells are extremely good layers, managing an average of 250-340 eggs each year.

The Magpie

The Magpie duck comes in either black and white or blue and white and lays either green or white eggs. Magpies are lightweight ducks, and extremely active foragers.

Magpie Ducklings in the Grass

Magpie ducks usually lay white eggs, but some will lay blue or green eggs instead.

Magpie Ducklings

Magpies start out yellow and gray as ducklings, maturing to pure white with black markings when fully grown. There's more to ducks than meets the eye.