Indian Runner
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Indian Runners are a breed of Anas platyrhynchos domesticus, the domestic duck and was developed from the wild mallard. It is considered a light-weight duck. The Indian Runner is nicked name the bowling pin duck because it shares the same shape. Runners come from the East Indies, from where they get their present day name but were referred to as “Penguin Ducks” by early importers. Records of stone carvings in Java seem to suggest an origin of a thousand years or more. Europeans noted them in the mid 19th century in Malaya 1851 and Lombok, Indonesia where Alfred Wallace observed in 1856 that they walked erect. They have a very unique shape and posture. They stand erect and they run not waddle like other duck breeds. The females usually lay about 150 to 200 large delicious eggs a year or more. The egg is one-half times larger than a standard size hens egg. Eggs are usually white but some strains lay a green egg. They become sexually mature at 17-24 weeks and begin laying eggs at this time. They are not maternal and don’t set on their eggs. They are considered the Leghorn of the ducks having an incredible reputation for egg-laying. They are a hardy duck and can live over 10 years with good care. The runner has been used in cross breeding to add vigor to traditional table breeds. The cross breeding almost lead to the extinction of the breed in Britain in the beginning of the 20th century as they noticed that there were fewer pure ducks. They were used to create the Khaki Campbell, Buff Orpington and a rush of other light breeds used in commercial farms and exhibition pens. They are excitable and wonderfully social with one another. They can be high strung and timid but trainable and do well when calmly socialized after hatching. Runners are the most active foragers of all the breeds. They can cover a large area eating slugs, insects, weeds and other edibles. Drakes weigh 3.5 to 5 lbs and Ducks weigh 3 to 4.5 lbs. They come in a variety of colors recognized by the American Standard of Perfection and a variety of Non-Standard colors.
We carry Fawn and White Penciled, Blue, Chocolate and White all running together. |
Magpie
Size: 5 1/2 - 6 lbs.
Description: Most common in black&white. They are a general purpose breed and can lay 220-290 eggs a year. There meat is of gourmet quality and 1 bird can feed 2-3 people.
Description: Most common in black&white. They are a general purpose breed and can lay 220-290 eggs a year. There meat is of gourmet quality and 1 bird can feed 2-3 people.
