Aylesbury

Origin:  Britain

Category:  Heavy Breed Duck

Egg Colour:  Cream to White

Sitter: Not well

The Aylesbury is a very large duck with pinkish white skin, bred for table purposes and in modern times for exhibition. It has been said by Appleyard that is it is the best of all table breeds: very large, white-fleshed, getting its name from the vale of Aylesbury where the breed originated, and where it was reared in large numbers for the London market.

The true Aylesbury is just a moderate layer and if of a good strain will generally give a flock average of a hundred eggs or so in the year. They are primarily bred for meat, not for high egg records.

To ensure fertility early in the hatching season great care should be given to the choice of really active, sound drakes, known to be bred from extra fertile stock. With the very large "keely" type of stock a useful mating is a drake with two or three big ducks.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Head large, straight, and long.

Bill long and broad, and when viewed from the side the outline almost straight from the top of the skull, the head and bill measuring from 6 to 8 inches.

Eyes full.

Neck long, slender, and slightly curved.

Body long, broad, and very deep; full and prominent breast.

Keel quite straight from breast to stern; straight back, almost flat; strong wings, carried closely to the sides, fairly high, but not touching across the saddle.

Tail short, only slightly elevated, and composed of stiff feathers, the drake's having two or three well-curled feathers in the centre.

Legs very strong and short, the bones thick, well set to balance the body. Toes straight, connected by web.

Carriage horizontal, the keel practically parallel with the ground.

Plumage bright and glossy, resembling satin.

COLOUR

Bill pink-white, or flesh. Eyes dark. Legs and Feet bright orange. Plumage pure white.

WEIGHTS

Weight of Drake : 10 lb (4.54kg),

Weight of Duck : 9 lb (4.1kg).

SERIOUS DEFECTS

• Plumage other than white;

• Bill other than white or flesh-pink;

• Any deformity;

• Ducks very heavy behind.

See Disqualifications

SOURCES

• The American standard of perfection, illustrated. A complete description of recognized varieties of fowls, as revised by [the Association at its 62d-67th annual meetings, 1937-42.] Public Domain accessed from: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009169004

• The Poultry club standards, containing a complete description of all the recognised varieties of fowls, ducks, geese and turkeys, ed. by William W. Broomhead. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009202629