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Ducks can be helpful, colorful little characters in your garden patch, providing a measure of truly natural garden pest control – and the eggs they lay taste delicious! Here are some fun facts about a few heirloom breeds.
Indian Runners are comical-looking ducks that stand tall and attentive. They’re a small to midsized breed, and they possess a sweet disposition – though they are a bit skittish and startle easily. They can’t fly well but if startled can hurdle 2-foot fences (and run over plants as well). The Indian Runner presents an example of natural pest control: In China, they have been used to pick fields clean of bugs for nearly 2,000 years. The farmer would herd a group into the field to feed on snails, insects and scattered grain, then take them back to shelter at night – where they laid eggs for the next morning.
Khaki Campbells originated in 1898 in England as a cross between an Indian Runner and a Rouen. They are an upright, medium-sized breed in a pretty buff, almost caramel, color. Khaki Campbell ducks typically are pleasant and are excellent foragers, making them ideal for your garden. They produce an average of 340 eggs annually. Their one main drawback as a candidate for duck raising is they sometimes fly away, but this can be remedied by clipping their wings.
Welsh Harlequins are among the most stunning of duck breeds! Their reddish-chestnut coloration, adorned with accents ranging from greenish-black to cream, lives up to their harlequin moniker. A descendent of the Khaki Campbell, the Welsh Harlequin is a little larger, with a charming personality and a similarly prolific egg-laying ability.
Muscovies display mottled colorations in black and white or shades of brown and gray, and red skin on their faces. They’re a hardy breed that doesn’t quack; they hiss. If raised from young chicks, they bond well with humans. The Muscovy is a large duck and like the Khaki Campbell duck, they represent a great form of natural garden insect control, making great foragers. They’re also popular for their eggs and meat. Muscovies will need clipped wing feathers to keep them from flying away.
To learn more about raising ducks, read "Raising Ducks Helps Your Garden Patch" at Grit.
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