Huttegem Duck
| Ancona Duck | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Category | Egg Colour | Sitter |
| Belgium | Light breed duck - dual purpose | White or pale green | Not originally, although recreated stock may |
The following information is adapted from Brown's Races of Domestic Poultry. It is speculated that the genetics have randomly segregated from mixed flocks in Australia.
It appears the original Huttegem Duck was the result of crossing the Blue Termonde upon a smaller duck with a body long and narrow, resembling that of the Indian Runner, which latter type was formerly very common in the Netherlands. Though it should be remembered that Belgian duckbreeders do not pay much attention to colour of plumage so long as type of body and colour of bill and legs are in accordance with their views.
History - This duck was bred very extensively in the Audenarde district of East Flanders, where hundreds of thousands of ducklings were raised annually. The name is taken from the village of Huttegem, near the city of Audenarde, as that is the centre of the industry which was been followed for several decades. The requirements are a hardy, rapid-growing duck, attaining maturity early, and commencing to lay when five or six months old. The area is low-lying, with large areas of water meadows, and in the streams grow abundantly water lentils (or duck weed), which were regarded as necessary for ducklings.
Economic Qualities - The Huttegem duck commences to lay early. The ducklings are very hardy, as they are put out on the fields when two days old, even if the ground is covered with snow, and they are given access to water from the first, if the ice has to be broken for the purpose. Only vigorous birds could stand such treatment, but deaths are few and far between. They are splendid foragers, roaming widely in search of worms and other natural food. They grow rapidly, and at five to six weeks old can be put up for fattening, so that they are killed at eight to nine weeks after hatching. The flesh is fairly abundant, and fine in flavour. The ducks are prolific layers, but do not sit.
Colour of Flesh and Skin: White.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Description — Of a medium size, the Huttegem is long, but rather narrow, flattish in back and round below, deepest midway between the legs, and higher in breast than stern, but without penguin carriage.
The neck is short, and the head long, with a straight, flat bill and small forehead.
COLOUR OF DRAKE AND DUCK
Back of the head, neck, breast, under-parts, and wing-flights are white.
The head and rest of body coloured as stated below, but the colour on the head is peculiar in that the crown and around the eye above and below is coloured in D shape, the white running to the eye, which is at the base.
The beak is blue, a white line dividing it from the head;
Colour of Legs and Feet: Blue, or slate.
Colour of Egg-shells: White, or pale green.
COLOUR VARIETIES
Varieties : Blue, Dark Fawn, or Tawny.
WEIGHT & SIZE GUIDE
- Old Drake 5 - 6 lbs
- Young Drake 4 - 5 lbs
- Old Duck 5 - 6 lbs
- Young Ducks 4 - 6 lbs
SCALE OF POINTS
Refer to general duck points guide
Serious Defects
SOURCES
- Races of Domestic Poultry by Edward Brown, published 1906.