Have you ever heard about the Duclair duck?
They are the descendants of Rouen ducks, but they look as regal as the Swedish blue.
But what makes them special?
In this article, we’ll help you gain more insight into the Duclair duck breed and share with you the:
- distinguishing characteristics
- personality and temperament
- and how they perform in the egg ad meat department
So if you want to learn more about this breed and see whether it’s worth adding to your flock, hop in to find out!
Duclair Duck’s Origin and History
Duclair ducks had their humble beginnings in Europe.
And actually, not much is known about the beginning of this breed.
What we know, though, is where they originated.
So, Where Did the Duclair Duck Come From?
The name of this duck is adapted from its place of origin, the city of Duclair in Normandy, France, where they stayed native for around two centuries.
In French, they are called Canard Duclair, while in German are the Duclair Enten.
Duclair’s ancestors are unknown.
Many people thought they were formed by breeding the migrant and local ducks. But it’s unclear.
They belong to Rouen ducks, but they are similar to Swedish Blue.
Eventually, on November 13, 1923, Swedish Blue was established as the official standard of Duclair ducks.
People also believe the breed was made perfect by Metzer Farms and Stone Church Farms in New York, United States.
Regardless, Duclair made its own identity in many chef’s kitchens.
Distinguishing Characteristics of the Duclair Duck
Duclair ducks are medium size breed like the Mallard.
Despite their size, they easily grow to their mature body and strong legs.
Ever wondered how they look?
Well, this breed has many varieties.
But the original color is black and blue or brown, with black and brown or blue-grey body plumage and bluish-green or green eye color.
They have white bibs on their neck and a white feather on their wings.
However, some varieties have plain white plumage, and their bill is bright orange.
This new variety is produced because of the breeder’s decision.
Currently, trusted breeders try their best to produce the best-looking breed by crossbreeding Duclair to Pekin ducks.
Because of their green head and white bib looks, they sometimes describe as ‘classic monkey Mallards.’
While there’s not much information about the differences in the appearance of male and female Duclair ducks; we know that they differ in size.
Male Duclair Ducks
A Drake Duclair duck can weigh up to 3 kilograms or 6.6 pounds and have a more rounded head than a female.
They’re usually larger than their female counterparts, just like other breeds.
Female Duclair Ducks
A female Duclair has duller color and is smaller than Drake Duclair.
And a fully grown duck hen can only weigh up to 2.5 kilograms or 5.5 pounds.
Duclair Duck’s Temperament and Personality
This duck is an excellent breed for novice duck owners because it is gentle and non-aggressive.
These ducks are resilient and can endure any climate.
Due to their poor flying abilities, Duclair ducks still require some form of predator protection, like fences.
Duclairs are outstanding foragers and hunters since they consume a variety of items both on land and in water.
Slugs and snails are their favorite food, and they will cheerfully eat as many as they can find.
They enjoy eating a variety of aquatic vegetation, seeds, insects, grains, crustaceans, and grubs because they are omnivores.
The Duclair, like many other duck breeds, has a third eyelid that shields its vision, aids in underwater vision, and facilitates effortless food capture.
Uses of Duclair Duck
Though they’re not a large breed, Duclair ducks are mainly used in meat production because of their complex, earthy, and rich taste.
That’s why they’re popular with chefs and gourmets.
But aside from meat, Duclairs are also multi-purpose because they can produce good eggs and are sometimes used in exhibitions.
Duclair Duck Meat
Aside from having a delicious meat taste, its meat is one of the best-flavored ducks.
They were even described as “a cross between veal and lamb” by the French chefs Alain Ducasse and Daniel Boulud.
And what’s best about this breed is that they easily grow mature size in just 7 to 12 weeks.
Duclair Duck Eggs
Even though Duclairs are medium size breed, they can produce 80 to 100 large eggs every year.
Each egg can weigh up to 70 grams.
They start laying when they reach 20 to 30 weeks old.
If you want to raise their chicks, you must wait 26 to 28 days to hatch.
The color of the Duclair duck egg is a beautiful bluish-green.
If you’re a beginner in raising them, it’s better to let them reproduce first before consuming their eggs.
Population and Habitat of Duclair Ducks
Duclair Ducks live in the natural close to an open area with small wetlands and thick grasses to shield their eggs.
The majority of these birds are tamed, though.
Many of them can be seen residing close to farms and ponds.
Luckily, this breed is not endangered.
Except for Antarctica, they can be found on every continent.
However, given the breed’s decline in popularity in Europe, you still won’t find many of them in their native region.
Pros and Cons of Raising Duclair Duck
Like other breeds, raising Duclair ducks have ups and downs.
Before deciding to raise them, I suggest you consider the advantages and disadvantages.
And to help you make the right decision, we summarized their pros and cons below.
Pros:
- A multi-purpose breed
- Has tasty and best table meat
- Calm, gentle, and not aggressive
- Fast grower and excellent forager
Cons:
- Medium size only
- It might destroy your aquatic plants
- Need enough water supply
- Low egg production
Where to Find Duclair Duck For Sale?
Finding the right and pure breed of an animal like the Duclair duck is difficult.
But in the United States, there are knowledgeable and reputable breeders that can offer a pure Duclair duck breed.
First is Metzer Farms, which is the original breeder of Duclair.
You can directly contact them to order Duclair hatching eggs or ducklings that you want to raise.
If you want more information about them and see their available hatching eggs and ducklings, you can visit their website.
Another reputable breeder is Purely Poultry. They offer pure breeds of any ducks.
But for now, they can only offer the white Duclair duck.
Lastly, Global Poultry Co.Ltd confidently offers the pure and best breed of Duclair ducks.
If you can’t find any Duclair in your area, it’s worth checking them out!
However, although we’ve rounded up these breeders for you, I suggest you still do due diligence and research about their reputation.
You can also check on the duck’s health condition and the environment where they live in.
Doing these extra but very important steps will save you from a lot of trouble later on.
How to Raise a Duclair Duck
Before deciding where to buy, you need to consider the location of the breeders, how many you want to raise, and what’s your purpose in raising.
To help you do that, here are some tips on how to raise a Duclair duck below.
Provide Enough Water
Ducks love and need water, as the cliche goes.
Although young ducklings don’t need a lot of water, they still need water to ingest their meal and clean themselves.
Ducklings should be given access to water that is deep enough for their beaks to fully submerge so that they can clear any leftover food from the openings in their bills.
Small Duclair ducklings frequently choose to eat pre-saturated, almost soup-like food.
However, ducklings aren’t always prepared to go swimming right soon.
They can quickly get cold without a mother duck since their fluff isn’t waterproof or warm enough.
If you let your Duclair ducklings swim, make sure their brooder remains warm enough and that you are prepared to dry them gently afterward, especially if it’s early in the spring.
But never let them swim without supervision because they might get lost or sink in the water.
Give the Right Feed
Food can highly affect the emotional and physical health of your ducks.
Because they don’t have any work to do, eating delicious food can make them happy.
That’s why it’s very important to maintain a balanced diet. It will determine how long the ducks will live.
Ensure the appropriate food is prepared in their brooder before bringing the ducklings home.
Ducklings shouldn’t consume chick starter feed since it does not provide enough niacin for waterfowl.
The majority of feed retailers provide duck feed specially developed for young waterfowl.
But it’s crucial to read the label to be sure the food has the nutrients your ducklings require.
The Niacin should be the first thing you check for because it supports their growing bones, while Brewer’s yeast can be added as a supplement to feed without niacin.
Prepare a Well-built Fence
You will need a fence if you raise ducklings and maintain a garden. Why?
Because they might destroy your plant if they ever will find it tasty to eat!
Furthermore, they’re easier targets of hungry predators because they’re smaller than others and are noobs regarding flight abilities.
So, a duck or chicken fence is necessary to protect your homestead from wild predators.
A well-built fence also helps keep your flocks on your premises and prevent losing them.
Since ducks are so adventurous, they will roam anywhere they want if you won’t set up high fences.
Prepare a Shelter
Duclair ducks are quite hardy in any climate.
However, they still need a roof to stay when they can’t handle the weather anymore.
Besides, Duclair ducklings need to be warmed by their mother to help them survive while still adapting to the climate in their surroundings.
You can also add warm light bulbs to your duck coop.
It doesn’t need to be so big or elaborate as long as ducks can feel safe and warm in it.
Give them Treats
Special treats would be appreciated by ducklings as well.
So reward them with some lettuce and beet greens or mealworms and crickets occasionally.
Your birds will surely love you for it, and it will help you tame them and bond with them.
But never give them human junk food because they’re not healthy for them and will do more bad than good.
FAQs About Duclair Duck
Are Duclair ducks friendly?
Yes, they are.
In fact, they’re one of the most easily tamed ducks with calm, active, and hardy nature.
They make good mothers and broodies, are good at foraging, and have fabulous personalities.
What are the characteristics of the Duclair duck?
Duclair ducklings and their adult counterparts are quite hardy.
They can easily adjust to the climate.
And even though they’re not a large breed, Duclair ducks easily grow mature and produces eggs earlier than you will expect.
Are Duclair ducks noisy?
This breed doesn’t scream or make loud sounds.
That’s why they fit well even in cities, and you and your neighbors won’t be distracted by their sound.
What color eggs do Duclair ducks lay?
Duclair ducks can produce pretty bluish-green eggs that won’t just make good table food but also an ornament worth adding if you like collecting colorful eggs.
How many eggs do Duclair ducks lay?
They can usually lay 80 to 100 eggs every year.
But now, Metzer Farms already produced a Duclair that lays 130 to 200 eggs annually.
However, the production really depends on how healthy your ducks are.
Duclair Ducks in a Nutshell
Duclair ducks are at a disadvantage when compared to larger breeds.
But this breed boasts high-quality, mouth-watering, and savory meat, which many duck keepers love.
Moreover, they can be used in many ways, including in exhibitions and egg production, because they can produce 80 to 100 large eggs bluish-green eggs yearly.
And the best thing about this breed is that they mature faster than other large breeds, and they’re friendly and calm.
However, like other duck breeds, Duclair is very prone to predator attacks, especially because they’re not good flyers.
So, before deciding to raise ducks, you must build a safe and comfortable space for them and provide the water and nutrients they need to survive and thrive.
If you enjoy collecting colorful eggs and ducks with tasty meat, this breed is worth adding to your flock.
However, if you want a prolific egg layer or meat producer American Pekin and Ancona duck may better suit your needs.