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With their elongated, downward curving bills Hook Bill ducks look a bit different from other domestic duck breeds. This breed has a history of more than 400 years, making them the oldest domestic waterfowl breed in Europe. Charles Darwin even described hook bills in his books and kept them in his backyard pond. The origins of the Hook Bill is uncertain though. Old texts suggest they originated in Asia but they were developed further and kept extensively in The Netherlands at one point, on the canals where they were let out to feed and come back home at night. It is rumoured that the white-bibbed Hook Bill was bred to help duck hunters identify them from wild Mallards. They are good layers of blue eggs, tame very easily, are quiet compared to some other duck breeds and are very inquisitive.
Hook Bill ducks were first admitted to the British Waterfowl Standards in 1997. They were imported into North America by David Holderread in 2000 and are not yet admitted to the APA's Standard of Perfection. They are generally called ‘Dutch Hookbill’ in America. Dusky Blue, Bibbed Dusky Blue, ‘Dirty White’ (non-standard colours in the UK) can be found in Holland and Germany.
Details:
Purpose: Exhibition; Utility: meat and eggs.
Eggs: 100 to 200 Blue Eggs annually
Origin: Asia(?)
Weight: Drake: 4.5 lbs, Duck: 3.9 lbs
Classification: Light
Colours: Dusky Mallard, White-bibbed Dusky Mallard, White.
Pic by @Birch Run Farm
Pic by @Birch Run Farm
Pic by @Birch Run Farm
BYC Breed Discussion:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...about-their-dutch-hook-bills-or-saxonese/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/231933/some-hook-bill-photos/0_30
Do you own Hook Bills? Are you a Hook Bill breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:
· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!
Hook Bill ducks were first admitted to the British Waterfowl Standards in 1997. They were imported into North America by David Holderread in 2000 and are not yet admitted to the APA's Standard of Perfection. They are generally called ‘Dutch Hookbill’ in America. Dusky Blue, Bibbed Dusky Blue, ‘Dirty White’ (non-standard colours in the UK) can be found in Holland and Germany.
Details:
Purpose: Exhibition; Utility: meat and eggs.
Eggs: 100 to 200 Blue Eggs annually
Origin: Asia(?)
Weight: Drake: 4.5 lbs, Duck: 3.9 lbs
Classification: Light
Colours: Dusky Mallard, White-bibbed Dusky Mallard, White.
Pic by @Birch Run Farm
Pic by @Birch Run Farm
Pic by @Birch Run Farm
BYC Breed Discussion:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...about-their-dutch-hook-bills-or-saxonese/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/231933/some-hook-bill-photos/0_30
Do you own Hook Bills? Are you a Hook Bill breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:
· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!
