After a few years of not having any poultry (two cross country moves), I finally got some ducks again! 
The first three I got are Welsh Harlequins from a local feed store that sells sexed ducklings, a big plus for living in town and only allowed 5 ducks.
I purposely picked out three different colored ducklings, one light, one dark, and one medium.
I was interested to see if the shade of the ducklings would be reflected in their adult plumage shades and being gold or silver. I’ve only had 3 other Welshies before and two were bought as adults. I was under the impression that the only way to tell the two varieties apart was by their wing patch color (blue or gold), but upon some more research, it appears that the two varieties can be told apart by their overall plumage coloration. I found this article:
https://www.tyrantfarms.com/history-welsh-harlequin-ducks/
Where they quoted Holderread saying:
“The original color was the Gold, which has no black pigment, has soft colors, and is the equivalent of Khaki in Campbells. The Silver variety apparently arose at least 10 years after the origin of the breed and has the same relationship to the Gold variety as Dark has to Khaki in the Campbells. Silver Harlequins have more contrast and brilliance in their plumage and are the most common variety in North America today.”
By what he said and looking more at the different varieties, I would guess I have 2 silvers (the dark duckling and the medium) and 1 gold (the light). They are almost 4 weeks old and their down in completely grown in and there is quite a color difference between the darker two and the light one.
This is a recent picture showing the two darker with very gray down, and the light one with very gold/tawny down.
I’m guessing I have two silvers and a gold. Any experts out there to confirm this? Also just another fun picture of the whole flock.
In the front is Medwyn (the light Welshie) and in the back from left to right are Elena (was labeled as a Saxony, but coming in completely white), Cariad (the dark Welshie), Marlis (the medium Welshie), and Kyleah (a Silver Appleyard).
The first three I got are Welsh Harlequins from a local feed store that sells sexed ducklings, a big plus for living in town and only allowed 5 ducks.I purposely picked out three different colored ducklings, one light, one dark, and one medium.
I was interested to see if the shade of the ducklings would be reflected in their adult plumage shades and being gold or silver. I’ve only had 3 other Welshies before and two were bought as adults. I was under the impression that the only way to tell the two varieties apart was by their wing patch color (blue or gold), but upon some more research, it appears that the two varieties can be told apart by their overall plumage coloration. I found this article:
https://www.tyrantfarms.com/history-welsh-harlequin-ducks/
Where they quoted Holderread saying:
“The original color was the Gold, which has no black pigment, has soft colors, and is the equivalent of Khaki in Campbells. The Silver variety apparently arose at least 10 years after the origin of the breed and has the same relationship to the Gold variety as Dark has to Khaki in the Campbells. Silver Harlequins have more contrast and brilliance in their plumage and are the most common variety in North America today.”
By what he said and looking more at the different varieties, I would guess I have 2 silvers (the dark duckling and the medium) and 1 gold (the light). They are almost 4 weeks old and their down in completely grown in and there is quite a color difference between the darker two and the light one.
This is a recent picture showing the two darker with very gray down, and the light one with very gold/tawny down.
I’m guessing I have two silvers and a gold. Any experts out there to confirm this? Also just another fun picture of the whole flock.
In the front is Medwyn (the light Welshie) and in the back from left to right are Elena (was labeled as a Saxony, but coming in completely white), Cariad (the dark Welshie), Marlis (the medium Welshie), and Kyleah (a Silver Appleyard).
