The Indian Runner Duck

Uses: Utility - Eggs and good for organic pest control.

Eggs: Up to 200 per year.

Weight: Drake: 1.6 - 2.3 Kg , Duck: 1.4 to 2 Kg. Classification: Light.

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 and spend more time foraging than on water.

Photo: A White Indian Runner Drake owned by Stefan Windle / Yorkshire Pekins

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. 

Breed Clubs:

• UK: The Indian Runner Duck Association
• UK: The British Waterfowl Association - See their page on Indian Runner Ducks.
  

Books:

• The Indian Runner Duck - C.& M. Ashton
• The Domestic Duck - C.& M. Ashton - P.36-45
  
• Keeping Ducks and Geese - C. & M. Ashton - P.72
• British Waterfowl Standards - P.92-118
• British Poultry Standards - P.419-428

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