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Uses: Utility - Eggs, Meat.
Eggs: 75 to 100 per year, more from American commercial strains.
Weight: Drake: 4 Kg, Duck: 3.5 Kg.
Classification: Heavy.
Useful to know: Feathering is fairly soft so avoid too much mud.
Photo: A German Pekin Duck at the Hannover Poultry Show 2009.
The Pekin Duck is most famous for it's commercial use, appearing on Chinese food menus around the World. Most of the meat produced in the UK is in fact from a hybrid cross with Aylesbury ducks. These birds are often used because they produce a high quality tender meat at by about 8 weeks of age. In the U.S the Pekin is sometimes called the ‘Long Island Duck' since the first imports into America in 1873 arrived at Long Island, New York and the majority of duck eaten in the US is Pekin Duck. The Pekin first appeared in the UK during the 1870's and was imported from China. Like all domestic ducks (with the exception of the Cayuga) is a descendant of the Wild Mallard.
Both bill and legs / webs are bright orange. The feathers are cream in colour. European Pekins have an upright carriage, almost like a penguin however, the standard for the Pekin does vary between countries. The American Pekin is not as upright as the European Pekin.
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Domestic Duck Breeds