Welsh Harlequin ducks may be debate a relatively new strain , but they are take in popularity across the United States and Great Britain . With their calm , sweetened natures andhigh testis production , theseducksoffer poultry enthusiasts so much boot for their Pearl Sydenstricker Buck .
History
TheWelsh Harlequinbreed uprise in Wales in 1949 and was cover by Leslie Bonnet , a British Royal Air Officer . Mr. Bonnet developed the Welsh Harlequin when he hatched two reciprocal light - colored purebredKhaki Campbellducklings . Mr. Bonnet used these two duckling to spawn what is now call the Gold variety of the Welsh Harlequin breed .
For the next 30 years , Mr. Bonnet distributed Welsh Harlequins worldwide , include sell some ducks to Eddie Grayson of Lancashire in 1963 and hatch eggs to John Fugate from Tennessee in 1968 . These gentlemen would play a crucial part in the Welsh Harlequin breed ’s creation and development in breeding today ’s Welsh Harlequin .
In 1968 , Leslie Bonnet lost his Welsh Harlequin flock to a George Fox flack . Mr. Bonnet contact Eddie Grayson , who still had some of the original duck that Leslie Bonnet had sell him in 1963 . Mr. Grayson agreed to breed Bonnet ’s original ducks , and the Welsh Harlequin was saved from extinguishing . Mr. Grayson by and by wrote a Standard for the breed .
The same class , John Fugate imported some hatching egg from Leslie Bonnet to the U.S. By 1980 , Fugate ’s original imports were confined to two small flocks . Mr. Fugate imported ballock in 1982 to broaden the breeds ’ gene puddle and enlisted the help of Dave and Millie Holderead ( Holderead ’s Waterfowl Farm and generator of Storey ’s Guide to Raising Ducks ) . Some of Mr. Fugate ’s imported eggs hatched a young colour , which Dave Holderead named Silver .
Silver was accepted into the American Poultry Standard of Perfection in 2001 and is the most democratic color in the U.S.
Color Varieties
atomic number 79 is the strain ’s original coloring and the only color recognized in Great Britain . Gold Welsh Harlequins have no dark paint and variation bronze annex speculum in their feather . Drakes have a green and bronze school principal with a blank ring at the groundwork of their neck .
Breast and shoulders are encompass in showy sepia feathers twine in blanched with a creamy white underbody . leg and foot are orange , and bills vary from yellow to olive green . Gold female person are considered fawn colour , with a mid - brown rump . Like the drakes , females also have orange legs and feet , as well as an orange bill with dark-brown blot . The lacing form on the wings give the drakes and hens a adorable tortoiseshell face .
The most democratic color in the U.S. , atomic number 47 drakes depend like their wild mallard full cousin . These Francis Drake are true peach , with shimmering unripe heads , smooth-spoken bodies and dark backstage speculum . Silver females are creamy lily-white with black markings on their backrest . Females also run around low-spirited - extension speculums . Unlike their gold cousin-german , smooth-spoken females ’ bills and feet are black and slice to dark European olive tree green during the non - laying time of year .
Khaki is the least popular of the three color edition and occurs rarely when an private duckling hatches with the Khaki cistron . These duck look like their closely related full cousin , the Khaki Campbell . While Khaki Welsh Harlequins may not frolic the dazzling feather pattern of the amber and Ag varieties , these duck are a beautiful brown and have a beauty all their own .
Temperament
A Welsh Harlequin ’s temperament may be one of the leading causes for these duck ’ grow popularity . When handled daily as duckling and throughout their grownup class , Welsh Harlequins are calm , not easily frightened , and considered one of the unagitated duck’s egg breeds .
Unlike other lightweight duck breeds , this breed is ideal for crime syndicate pets and good with children . Both drakes and ducks ( females ) have well-chosen - go - lucky personalities , are easy tamed , and are affectionate with their families . Welsh Harlequins are hold ducks who love being with their preferent human . While they do n’t always like being picked up as adults , they love to be you around the yard . They have a reserved and quiet nature around strangers .
If you ’re raising ducks for kin pets , choosing to lift Welsh Harlequin ducklings versus buy adult birds is counsel .
Egg Production
Welsh Harlequin female were spawn to be excellent layer , just like their Khaki Campbell cousins . But the egg production has turn down over the years . Today , Welsh Harlequins lie an norm of 100 to 200 nut each year .
While most female person lie pearly white-hot eggs , a few once in a while lay eggs tint in blue or green .
Interesting Facts
Welsh Harlequins are deliberate one of the most broody duck strain recognized by the American Poultry Association ( APA ) .
duckling can be sexed by the gloss of their bill when hatch with a 90 pct truth , with drakes sporting a dark bill and females a light color bill with a dark tip .
Drakes have a high libido , so avoid housing multiple drakes with the females .
There are many reasons for the Welsh Harlequins ’ grow popularity , from splendid egg product to mothering acquisition . But their honor - gain personality might make them one of the most popular duck’s egg breeds today .
