Enlarge

Breed Club Secretary

Ducks come under the brief of:
· The Domestic Waterfowl Club of Great Britain
· The British Waterfowl Association

Image

n/a

History

This breed has a well known history . . . it was introduced in 1901 by Mrs Adelle Campbell of Uley, Gloucestershire who wanted abreed for laying white table eggs that was not broody , reluctant to fly off and reacted nearer to a fowl. It was bred from Mallard, Fawn and White Runners and Rouen with a very vague standard in order to keep the utility properties of the breed. From these a white sport was standardized as the White Campbell and a Dark Campbell was created by a Mr H R S Humphreys in Devon to enable a classic gold / silver cross mating for sex linkeage. This colouration did not find favour after the second world war and declined to almost critical levels and although the white and the khaki are often seen very few breeders keep the dark Campbell and due to the small gene pool a number throw eye stripes which are incorrect for the breed and a throwback as are any of the colours that lay blue or green eggs . . . these birds should not really be bred from as not up to the breed standard. It was admitted to the American Standard in 1941.

Characteristics

This is the main egg laying breed in the duck world. developed in 1901 by Mrs Campbell of Gloucestershire.

The ancestry of the mallard can easily be seen in this breed. Most people have only heard of the Khaki, but the campbell is standardised in both dark and white forms.

Breed Tips

Do not require water for swimming to stay health, but they enjoy it. Prefer shallow trays or even a washing up bowl with a brick in it.

Excellent foragers, keeping gardens and ponds free of slugs, snails and worms.

Kept as trios or more the drake runs well at ten females per drake and as such are unsuitable to be kept as pairs . . . depending upon the drakes energy levels. They lay all year normally, averaging 350 for the Khaki considerably less for the other colours . . . thus will rarely sit and brood if the eggs are removed.

Purpose

Dual

Classification

n/a

Origin

England

Egg Color

White

Egg Numbers

250 / 300 per annum