Uses: Utility - Eggs and good for organic pest control.
Eggs: Up to 200 eggs per year.
Origin: East Indies.
Weight: Drake: 1.6 - 2.3 Kg, Duck: 1.4 - 2 Kg.
Classification: Runner.
Colours: Apricot Trout (Saxony), Black, Blue, Chocolate, Fawn, Fawn & White, Mallard, Silver, Trout, White.
Useful to Know: Indian Runners do not originate from India but the East Indies - Malaya, Java and Lombok. They are prolific egg layers that are happier spending most of their time foraging for food than being on water. Probably THE most popular duck that can be found in a multitude of colour varieties.
Photo: A White Indian Runner Drake.

Indian Runner ducks are possibly the most influential of all of the duck breeds. Many of today's breeds of light duck have in part been created from the Indian Runner Duck. The Welsh Harlequin, Abacot Ranger and the famous Khaki Campbell for example would not exist if it were not for the Indian Runner.

The Indian Runner is reported to have first appeared in the UK in 1835 and they were originally called Penguin Ducks. The first fawn and white runners were standardised in 1901 with other colours following.

Indian Runners are active ducks that enjoy foraging for slugs and insects. One of their original uses in Asia was to clear the paddy fields of pests. They would be driven there in the mornings and rounded up again at night so that they could be kept safe from predators over night. Of course, they are well equipped to cover the distance quickly being able to run at a reasonable pace. In some parts of the World, they are still used in this way. Some organic vineyards in South Africa are starting to use Indian Runner Ducks to clear the vines of pests to avoid the use of chemicals.

Photos

• Trout Drake Trout Drake
• Black Duck Black Duck
• Fawn & White Pied Fawn & White Pied
• Saxony Drake Saxony Drake
• Silver Duck Silver Duck
• White Drake White Drake
• White Ducklings White Ducklings
• White Drake White Drake
• White Drake White Drake
• White Flock White Flock
• White Trio White Trio
• White Trio White Trio
• Apricot Trout Drake Apricot Trout Drake
• Apricot Trout Drake Apricot Trout Drake
• Apricot Trout Duck Apricot Trout Duck
• Apricot Trout Pair Apricot Trout Pair
• Apricot Trout Drake Apricot Trout Drake
• Black Pair Black Pair
• Black Ducklings Black Ducklings
• White Duck White Duck
• Chocolate Trio Chocolate Trio
• Fawn Drake Fawn Drake
• White Head White Head
• Fawn & White Drake Fawn & White Drake
• White Drake White Drake
•  

Books

The following books are available. Links take you to the Amazon or other sellers' pages for the books.

• The Indian Runner Duck - Mike Ashton
• The Domestic Duck - C & M Ashton - P.36-45
• British Waterfowl Standards - P.92 - 118
  
• British Poultry Standards- P.419 - 428
  

Breed Clubs

• UK: The Indian Runner Duck Association.

Discussion

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