The Runner duck is an historical breed recognized within the East Indies for a minimum of 2,000 years. Its excellence lies in being a terrific layer that’s agile sufficient to simply herd over lengthy distances.
Runner geese have been historically stored in pens in a single day. After the hens laid their eggs within the morning, the geese have been herded to fields to wash up weed seeds, snails, and different undesirables.
Bodily Attributes
The fawn and white Runner duck is by far the most well-liked of the quite a few Runner duck colour varieties. It has a tan cap, white neck, tan again, tan and white underbody, and white tail and wing suggestions.
As a result of its legs are farther again than these of most geese, the Runner stands upright, like a penguin. Its bottle-like physique is comparable in form to that of a wine bottle or a bowling pin.
Runner geese are significantly energetic and at all times on the transfer. They don’t waddle like different geese, however fairly run from place to put, therefore the identify.
The Runner is a comparatively small breed. Hens grows to 3¼ kilos, drakes to 4 or 4½ kilos. As a result of they’re small, they eat considerably lower than different home duck breeds, making them tremendous economical as layers.
Mature drakes differ from the hens in having curled tail feathers. Additionally the hens quack loudly, whereas the drake’s sound is barely audible.
Breed Qualities
Runner geese mature in 4 to five months. The hens are good layers of medium-size eggs. Most Runner eggs have white shells, though some geese lay eggs with bluish-green shells.
Runner hens don’t have any sturdy intuition for brooding. And after they do brood, they lack a powerful maternal intuition and due to this fact make fairly poor moms.
On common they lay between 100 and 180 eggs per 12 months. Crossbreeding, together with better emphasis on plumage colour for exhibition, has resulted in decreased laying capacity in comparison with early information.
Due to their small measurement, Runner geese aren’t generally thought of to be a meat breed. Nevertheless, the Runner is a greater forager than another home duck, giving the meat a superb taste just like that of a wild duck. And their excessive agility, plus their inclination to not fly, makes them excellent without spending a dime ranging.
Fawn and white Runner geese have been admitted to the American Commonplace of Perfection in 1898. Due to their upright stance and alert demeanor, they present very well and stay in style at exhibition.
Runner geese are typically nervous, excitable, and simply startled. Nevertheless, with early and frequent dealing with they readily change into pleasant as household pets. For a wholesome, hardy duck that adapts properly to any local weather, take into account the fawn and white Runner duck.
Useful Hyperlinks
And that’s right this moment’s information from the Cackle Coop.
Gail Damerow is the creator of An Absolute Newbie’s Information to Elevating Yard Geese : Breeds, Feeding, Housing and Care, Eggs and Meat.
