The Welsh Harlequin duck was developed in Wales in 1949 from a pair of sunshine coloured sports activities hatched from Khaki Campbell geese. The breed was first imported to america in 1968 and admitted to the American Customary of Perfection in 2001.
Bodily Attributes
Welsh Harlequins are barely heavier than Khaki Campbells, however comparable in physique kind. Their plumage shade sample, nonetheless, is extra like that of a Mallard.
Males have a inexperienced head and white neck ring, like a Mallard, with physique plumage that’s just like a Mallard’s however having extra white feathers. The feminine’s plumage is a patchwork of shades of brown, grey, and black with numerous white frosting.
In contrast to different duck breeds, the hens undergo 4 distinctly completely different plumage patterns. The primary happens at two months of age. The second at 4 to 5 months. After the primary yr of laying, the hens molt into darkish eclipse plumage that lasts three to 4 months. Lastly they develop nuptial plumage, and thereafter molt twice yearly, like different duck breeds.
The Welsh Harlequin duck really is available in two shade varieties. The gold selection is favored in Britain, whereas the silver selection is favored in america. The silver selection just isn’t as darkish because the gold selection. Moreover, the silver selection has iridescent blue secondary wing feathers, whereas the secondaries of the gold selection are bronze.
Other than women and men differing in shade as they mature, ducklings will be sexed at hatch with a good diploma of accuracy. The male duckling often has a darkish invoice, whereas the feminine often has a light-color invoice with a darkish spot on the tip. This distinction final only some days as their invoice colours change. At maturity, the male has an orange invoice, whereas the feminine has a darkish inexperienced invoice.
Breed Qualities
The Welsh Harlequin duck is a dual-purpose meat and egg breed. These geese develop slowly to achieve a dwell weight of between 4½ and 5½ kilos. Their meat is particularly lean.
The hens start laying at 6 to eight months of age and proceed to the age of 8 or 9 years. They lay 100 to 150 giant eggs per yr with white or, not often, pale inexperienced shells. They’re good setters and protecting moms.
Welsh Harlequins are wonderful foragers, however they lack a powerful sense of self-preservation. On free vary, their naturally calm demeanor, mild coloring, and incapacity to fly make them susceptible to predators.
Welsh Harlequins readily adapt to all climates. They’re much less noisy and far calmer than most different duck breeds. In addition they have a very inquisitive disposition, making them continually inquisitive about what their people are as much as. Being naturally easygoing and pleasant, Welsh Harlequins make terrific pets which might be particularly simple for youngsters to take care of.
Useful Hyperlinks
And that’s as we speak’s information from the Cackle Coop.
Gail Damerow is the writer of An Absolute Newbie’s Information to Elevating Yard Geese : Breeds, Feeding, Housing and Care, Eggs and Meat.
