Aylesbury Duck: Behavior, Characteristics And More
The number of Aylesbury Ducks is on the decline, but this lovely breed of ducks deserves a chance. Because they are adorable, fun to play with, and their beautiful white feathers are enough to win anyone’s heart.
But you’ll need to take care of them, otherwise, they can smell bad and suffer from diseases. People interested in farm activities can also have a look as its meat is juicy and delicious.
But using it for producing eggs would be a bad idea as they don’t lay many eggs. Learn about the characteristics, diet, habits, and maintenance costs of the breed here.
History of Aylesbury Duck
It is said that the Aylesbury duck originated from the wild mallard in the 18th centruy through selective breeding. During the early days, it gained immense popularity in Aylesbury. Back then a lot of people called it ‘English White”.
At that time the duck industry was thriving in Aylesbury as these ducks got expensive prices due to their beautiful white feathers.
The farmers used to keep the stocks in villages and send the eggs to cottages in town. But in 1873, Pekin ducks began to come in from China.
When people crossed the Aylesbury ducks with the Pekin ones, it used to produce a hardy breed with yellowish feathers. As the cross was successful, a lot of people started doing it and it was hard to keep pure Aylesbury ducks.
But somehow the pure breed managed to survive till now.
Aylesbury Duck Profile:
| Name | Aylesbury Duck (English) |
|---|---|
| Behaviour | Friendly |
| Eggs | 35-125 eggs per year |
| Flying Ability | No |
| Weight | Drakes: 10 pounds, Ducks: 9 pounds |
| Lifespan | 10 years |
| Weight of Egg | 75-80 grams |
| Ducklings Cost | 4-12$ |
| Origin Country | England |
| Purpose | Pet, meat, egg |
| Varieties | None |
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General Characteristics and Appearance
The long necks give them a resemblance to the swan and also contribute to their height of 13.5 inches.
And the most special attribute of these ducks is their snow-white plumage, which is also fluffy and soft. Plus, the skin below is also white, as other ducks usually have yellow skin under the plumage.
Their feathers also give a glossy and new look making them more attractive to the eyes.Now, the drakes weigh around 10 pounds, while the ducks weigh around 9 pounds.
It’s easy to distinguish between the female and male breeds as the male ones have a little bit of curl on their tail feathers.
Some people might confuse it with the Pekin ducks due to their white feathers. However, Pekin has an orange beak, and Aylesbury ducks have a pink-white beak that is shaped like a boat.
Eggs of Aylesbury Ducks
Though it’s a table bird, it’s not the best egg-producing breed as it can lay only 35-125 eggs per year. You can use them for producing eggs, but selling them won’t be viable from a business point of view.
But eggs are preferred for baking. So, if you love to make cakes, you can be grateful for their big eggs.
They usually lay the eggs in the early morning, so you should collect them during the morning before any damage comes to the egg. They’re neither fond of nor good at sitting. That’s why an incubator is a must for breeding.
Also, as they walk a lot, they often choose nesting spots randomly and lay eggs anywhere. So, be ready to find eggs at odd places.
The Meat of Aylesbury Ducks
Though Aylesbury ducks can be raised for both egg and meat, it’s particularly profitable when you breed them for meat.
Because they grow at a good speed and have a big body. And the amount of fat in their meat is very little which is the reason why it’s used in so many posh restaurants.
You can butcher them for meat within 7-8 weeks of their birth. Basically, you won’t even have to wait for their first molting.
Do Aylesbury Ducks Fly?
No, they don’t fly around as their body is heavy and the wings aren’t strong enough to give them the required support in the air.
That makes them a bit vulnerable to predators but also ideal for backyard duck raising.
Aylesbury Duck Temperament and Behaviour
Their behaviour is not much different from an average duck. Let’s learn more about it.
Friendly Behaviour
They are friendly, so no surprise here. And they get along with other ducks in the folk. There might be squabbles sometimes but, it’s nothing serious and mostly about dominance.
Mating
When it comes to mating, drakes are not monogamous. Each drake will have 4-5 female duck partners.
He can choose to mate with any of them and produce eggs. The drakes can mate from the age of 12 weeks, and their prime for mating lasts till they are 4 years old.
Good Mothers
Though an incubator is often important for hatching the eggs, once the ducklings are born, the mother ducks can take care of the well.
Sociable
They like to stay in groups. So, if you get Aylesbury ducks as pets, then keep them in groups or at least as pairs. Let the ducks spend time with each other.
What Does an Aylesbury Duck Eat?
Their diet is no different from other domestic duck breeds. The Aylesbury ducks depend on foraging to find protein-rich food items like worms, and insects. They also eat plants from time to time.
If you give them food a couple of times a day, they will be alright. However, the provided food amount needs to be higher in winter than in summer, as they find it difficult to get food during the winter season.
You can include game feed, corn, and seeds in their diet.
What Kind of Habitat Do Aylesbury Ducks Like?
Open space where they can forage is necessary to keep them happy. Because Aylesbury ducks are self-dependent for food and like to hunt worms and insects to fill their belly.
Fresh water source is also vital as they need it to swim and keep themselves clean. If they don’t find water and get dirty, they can be smelly.
Potential Health Issues
Aylesbury ducks usually remain healthy for most of their lives and have a long lifespan of 10 years as well.
But there are some issues they usually face that are not life-threatening thankfully.
These ducks love walking around the coop and outside. But they often become heavy due to overeating. So, these two habits can combine to create foot issues.
They’re particularly vulnerable to bumblefoot. To prevent bumblefoot from causing serious damage, you need to check their feet regularly, and if any issues are found, prompt actions must be taken to address the problem.
Another slightly common problem is worms. So, you need to deworm them regularly to keep them in the best condition.
Should I Adopt them as Pets?
These are bigger than most other pet duck breeds and are loved for their white plumage.
Their nature is calm and friendly making it an excellent addition as a pet to any family. I don’t think anyone will regret taking it as a pet. But it’s important to be aware of the shortcomings of the breed so that you don’t get surprised.
These ones can be quite loud and need ample space, so, apartment dwellers might not be the best host for them. Also, like most other ducks they can be messy as well, so you’ll need to put a significant amount of effort to keep things tidy.
How Much Would Aylesbury Ducks Cost?
The ducklings are cheap to buy. You can buy them at as low as 4 USD and the max price is 12 USD. However, when you want to buy an adult Aylesbury duck, various factors can influence the price.
Like if you want to buy a pet or need a drake to impregnate ducks. The size and condition are also important. Overall, the price ranges from 30-80 USD.
Maintenance Cost
More than 50% of the food is collected by the duck themselves. But still, you’ll need to buy them food like bird feed, and corn, especially in winter as natural sources become dry at that time.
Also, you might need to install heaters and lights in the coop to keep the comfortable. Their electricity bill will also need to be taken into account.
Considering all these, the maintenance cost can be 80-120 USD per duck every year.
However, if they contract a disease, you’ll need to take them to the vet, which can be expensive sometimes. And if you have to do tests, it can be really costly for you.
Where to Buy Aylesbury Ducks?
You can try omlet.us as they have some good collections of Aylesbury ducks. The American Poultry Association can also be a good medium to get hold of some pure Aylesbury ducks.
Conclusion
Aylesbury Duck’s attractive white plumage and friendly nature make it easy for you to spend time with them. I’ve seen people grow incredibly fond of this breed over time.
But some do struggle with cleaning the mess created by them and their loud quacking. Find more info on different duck breeds by connecting with us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.
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