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Contrary to what their name implies, the Australian Spotted duck breed is one of the few domesticated duck breeds that originated in the USA. In the 1920's John C. Kriner and Stanley Mason of Pennsylvania developed this breed by allowing Call ducks, Mallards, Pintails and various Australian wild ducks to crossbreed for several years before selecting the desired specimens from the results. One Henry K. Miller later started his own strain in the 1940's. In 1990, the Australian Spotted finally became more readily available to the public but, despite this, its overall numbers are low.
The Australian Spotted duck comes in three varieties, Greenhead, Bluehead, or Silverhead. Depending on the variety, the drake's head is green (Greenhead), blue (Bluehead), or silver (Silverhead). A white band encircles the neck, the sides of the body and breast are deep burgundy, and the center of the breast extending under the body white. The middle of the shoulders and back are dark gray, wings a dark grayish-brown, tail light gray, and the tail undercushion black. The bill should be greenish-yellow, the eyes brown and the shanks and feet orange. The Greenhead Australian Spotted duck's body, head, and neck are a fawn color, spotted with dark brown. The Bluehead and Silverhead's colorations are the same as the Greenhead, except the Bluehead's flecking and spots are bluish-gray, where the Silverhead's flecking and spots are silver (Holderread, 1991)
The first exhibit of the Australian Spotted began in 1928.
Details:
Purpose: Ornamental; Exhibition
Weight: 2-2.2 lbs
Egg size: Small-Medium
Egg Colour: Cream, Blue, Green
Pic by @Duck Drover
Pic by @Duck Drover
Pic by @Duck Drover
Pic by @Jennifer D
Pic by @SparrowHawkFarm
BYC Breed Discussions:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/766548/australian-spotted-ducks/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/117412/my-australian-spotted-bantam-ducks-pic-intensive/0_30
Do you own Australian Spotted ducks? Are you an Australian Spotted 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!
The Australian Spotted duck comes in three varieties, Greenhead, Bluehead, or Silverhead. Depending on the variety, the drake's head is green (Greenhead), blue (Bluehead), or silver (Silverhead). A white band encircles the neck, the sides of the body and breast are deep burgundy, and the center of the breast extending under the body white. The middle of the shoulders and back are dark gray, wings a dark grayish-brown, tail light gray, and the tail undercushion black. The bill should be greenish-yellow, the eyes brown and the shanks and feet orange. The Greenhead Australian Spotted duck's body, head, and neck are a fawn color, spotted with dark brown. The Bluehead and Silverhead's colorations are the same as the Greenhead, except the Bluehead's flecking and spots are bluish-gray, where the Silverhead's flecking and spots are silver (Holderread, 1991)
The first exhibit of the Australian Spotted began in 1928.
Details:
Purpose: Ornamental; Exhibition
Weight: 2-2.2 lbs
Egg size: Small-Medium
Egg Colour: Cream, Blue, Green
Pic by @Duck Drover
Pic by @Duck Drover
Pic by @Duck Drover
Pic by @Jennifer D
Pic by @SparrowHawkFarm
BYC Breed Discussions:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/766548/australian-spotted-ducks/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/117412/my-australian-spotted-bantam-ducks-pic-intensive/0_30
Do you own Australian Spotted ducks? Are you an Australian Spotted 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!
