Pekin duck
The Pekin is a large white duck descended from Chinese 'ten-pound ducks'. The British exhibition type is the upright German Pekin, while the American Pekin is a level-bodied table bird. The Pekin is also a founding breed of the commercial duck industry. It is on the RBST watchlist.
The Pekin is a pure-bred duck breed in the PCGB Heavy class. Its origin is given as China. It appears on the RBST Watchlist as a priority breed, so keepers of pure stock help conserve it.
It is kept in heavy form. Recognised colours: White (cream-tinted). Typical adult weights: drake about 4.1 kg and duck about 3.6 kg.
Expect roughly 60–140 eggs a year, with white shells. It is mainly kept for the table.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, rbst.org.uk, domestic-waterfowl.co.uk, poultrykeeper.com, waterfowl.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Duck
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Heavy
- Origin
- China
- Kept for
- Table
History
China has long kept big white ducks. A shipment that left Shanghai in 1872 reached New York in March 1873, and those birds founded America's 'Long Island Duck'. Britain imported the breed around 1872. British Pekins today are mostly of German descent, and the breed entered British standards in 1901. The Pekin also helped create other breeds, including the Saxony.
Appearance
Cream-white plumage (pure white is a minor fault in the UK standard), with an orange bill and legs. European birds stand very upright, almost like penguins. Standards differ by country.
Recognised colours
White (cream-tinted)
Size and weight
- Forms
- Heavy
- Drake
- 4.1 kg
- Duck
- 3.6 kg
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 60–140
- Egg colour
- White
- Notes
- BWA describes the Pekin as a prolific layer.
Temperament
- Keeping notes
- Its feathering is soft, so avoid heavy mud.
Hardiness
Not recorded yet.
Broodiness
Not recorded yet.
Flying
Not recorded yet.
Suitability
- Good to know
- Only white is standardised, though other colours exist.
Conservation status (RBST)
A priority breed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist.
Breed club
- The Pekin Bantam Club, breed-specific
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
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