Welsh Harlequin Drake – Profile | Care | Differences | Facts

welsh harlequin drake

The resplendent Welsh Harlequin Drake was developed by Leslie Bonnet of Wales from a coloration mutation that confirmed up in his Khaki Campbells in 1949. Our authentic inventory was out of birds imported immediately from the originator, Mr. Bonnet.

Welsh Harlequin Drake profile

We have now been diligently choosing our Harlequins since 1982 to take care of an excessive diploma of authenticity.

Each fashionable breed of domesticated duck originated from wild Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). The exception to this rule is Muscovy geese (Cairina moschata), which are a separate line on the duck household tree.

In order for you, a brilliantly colored duck that lays like a Campbell is an incredible forager that weighs 5 to five half of kilos, then the Welsh Harlequin Drake is a wonderful alternative.

Annual egg manufacturing in our flocks has been averaging 260 to 350 white eggs per feminine. If allowed to set, many Harlequin females will efficiently hatch ducklings.

Welsh Harlequin Drake Origin

Welsh Harlequin Drake has been developed in Wales, UK, from the Khaki Campbell, which itself descended from a Rouen drake, originating in France, crossed with a Fawn and White Runner duck, originating within the islands of Southeast Asia, whose offspring have been later crossed with a Mallard drake.

Welsh Harlequin Drake History

Group Captain Leslie Bonnet was a widely known industrial duck breeder specializing in utility breeds in Hertfordshire, UK. In 1949, his purebred Khaki Campbells gave rise to 2 pale-colored ducklings that he named “Honey Campbells”, which he chose to develop a brand new line.

The brand new coloration derived from two recessive genes. On shifting to a brand new farm close to Criccieth, Wales, in 1950, he renamed them “Welsh Harlequin” geese.

The unique coloration was the Gold selection now prevalent within the UK. By 1968, a coloration variant had arisen, though Bonnet doesn’t make a point out of it, and it isn’t acknowledged within the UK.

Nevertheless, when John Fugate imported fertile eggs from Bonnet to Tennessee, many of the hatchlings bore this new coloration, named “Silver” by Dave Holderread, a duck breeder and authority on the way to elevate geese in your yard.

In the meantime, within the UK, a fox ravaged Bonnet’s flock, destroying his breeding inventory. Thankfully, Edward Grayson, an eager newbie breeder, had saved inventory from Bonnet’s authentic pressure.

Grayson was capable of reviving the breed by crossing with Khaki Campbells and stabilizing the color.

He lay down a regular and arrange a nationwide membership. Welsh Harlequin geese have been admitted to British Requirements in 1997.

Within the States, by 1981, Fugate’s inventory had dwindled to 2 small flocks. He imported reside birds to extend the genetic variety and collaborated with Holderread to arrange matings and construct up inventory.

Right now, Holderread famous that non-Campbell genes had in all probability entered the gene pool in some unspecified time in the future, altering physique form.

The breeders refined conformation to the present customary, whereas recognizing the 2 coloration variations. By 1984, they have been capable of providing ducklings in the US. In 2001, the Silver selection was admitted to the American Poultry Affiliation’s Commonplace of Perfection.

Conservation Standing

Welsh Harlequin Drake is e a heritage poultry breed on the watch record of The Livestock Conservancy.

welsh harlequin drake

Welsh Harlequin Drake Description

The Welsh Harlequin Drake has the comparable conformation to the Campbell, particularly streamlined in the form with a comparatively lengthy body, a medium-width again, a rounded chest, wide-spaced legs with a reasonably full stomach, and an oval head with a medium-long straight, or barely concave, bill.

The medium-length neck is held practically vertically. The physique is held 20–35 levels from horizontal as befits an excellent forager.

The Welsh Harlequin Drake has Mallard-like plumage

A darkish head with a green sheen, a white-collar, and chestnut shoulders breaking right into a white frosted sample over the again, wings, and right down to a cream-white breast. The tail is black and bronze.

The Welsh Harlequin duck has a cream head with fawn stipples, missing eye stripes. Her physique, wings, and tail are creamy-white with frosted brown and fawn markings.

Each sex has orange legs when younger, however, females turn brown as they mature. Grownup Welsh Harlequin Drakes have olive-black payments, whereas drakes’ are yellow/inexperienced.

Nevertheless, at sooner or later outdated, feminine chicks’ payments are paler than males’ with a darkish spot on the tip.

This autosexing coloration distinction is not less than 75% correct, however lasts solely two to 3 days after hatching.

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