Stanbridge White duck
The Stanbridge White is a rare pure-white British utility duck. It was thought extinct until it was rediscovered in Gloucestershire in 2007. It is an RBST priority breed.
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The Stanbridge White is a pure-bred duck breed. Its origin is given as Romsey, Hampshire, England (developed by Lord Greenway; likely from white sports of Magpie ducks). It appears on the RBST Watchlist as a priority breed, so keepers of pure stock help conserve it.
It is kept in light form. Recognised colours: White.
It lays pale green eggs.
Compiled from rbst.org.uk, domestic-waterfowl.co.uk, poultryclub.org. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Duck
- Type
- Pure breed
- Origin
- Romsey, Hampshire, England (developed by Lord Greenway; likely from white sports of Magpie ducks)
History
The PCGB recognised it in the late 1920s or early 1930s. It was developed on Lord Greenway's Stanbridge Earls poultry farm, most likely from white sports of the Magpie bred to blue Magpies, though some think it helped create the Magpie instead. Birds went into laying trials at Harper Adams in the 1930s. The 2007 rediscovery traced birds back to the area where the poultry photographer Arthur Rice had kept them.
Appearance
White, with a yellow-orange bill and yellow legs. It resembles a slightly heavier Magpie, long and broad with a straight, refined head.
Recognised colours
White
Size and weight
- Forms
- Light
Eggs
- Egg colour
- Pale green
- Notes
- A very good layer that often keeps laying into October. Eggs are a good size, with a greenish tint early in the season. One keeper reported 240–250 eggs per duck. White eggs can indicate crossbreeding.
Temperament
- In short
- Independent forager
- Keeping notes
- RBST says they are great foragers that often go off alone all day, and that high fertility makes hatching easy.
Hardiness
Not recorded yet.
Broodiness
Said to be a good broody (unconfirmed)
Flying
Not recorded yet.
Suitability
- Good to know
- A white duck with a pink bill is probably part commercial table bird, not a Stanbridge.
Conservation status (RBST)
A priority breed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist.
Breed club
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
Some details are still being checked. In particular: broodiness; egg count.
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