Australian Spotted Duck Breed – Everything You Need to Know

Don’t be mislead by this Bantam duck’s name. It may be called an Australian Spotted duck, but the breed was actually developed in America.

They may also be smaller than standard sized ducks but that does not mean they are not mighty little creatures. They have an exceptionally sweet character and are quite friendly. They are also very hardy little ducks that will keep your garden free of pests such as beetles, slugs, snails and other insects. They are really good at eliminating mosquito larvae from various ponds, pools and puddles around the garden.

They are usually kept primarily as pets, ornamental or for exhibition. But they lay a good amount of medium sized cream, green or blue healthy eggs. Their meat makes a decent meal due to their breast size and has been said to be most delectable.

They also make a very good starter duck for first-time chicken owners and are good around supervised children.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Country of Origin:	North America
American Poultry Association:	Not Recognized by the American Poultry Association
Duck Category:	Bantams
Duck Class:	Unclassified
Colors:	Bluehead, Silverhead, Greenhead
Good starter duck?:	Yes
Bantam Variety Available?	They are a Bantam breed of duck
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Good starter duck?:	Yes
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APPEARANCE / IDENTIFICATION

DUCK BITS

DESCRIPTION

COLOR

EYES⇒

Dark

BILL⇒

Same for M & F

Mottled Yellow

* Black bean tipped

CRESTED?

LEGS⇒

Medium Same for M & f

Yellow

Not too far apart as they have smaller bodies

FEET⇒

Same for M & F

Yellow/Mottled

WINGS⇒

Similar in M & F

Depending on the duck’s color variety

Their wing feathers may be a light or darker brown some may have flecks once again depending on the variety

FEATHERS⇒

Same for M & F

Depending on the duck’s color variety

The varieties have different color heads. With the female’s coloring being duller than the males.Their feathers may be a light or darker brown some may have flecks once again depending on the variety

SKIN COLOR⇒

White

AVERAGE WEIGHT⇒

Adult Female:	2 lbs.
Adult Male:	2.2 lbs.
Mature:	**2 lbs. 5-6 weeks old

*Bean: This is also called the nail. It is a small round bump found at the end of the duck’s bill. It is used for defence and to catch insects. It is almost like a fingernail and is damaged can grow back. It can also get overgrown much like fingernails if they do not have something to grind it down on.

** Note: This is an average weight for the male duck and not a guaranteed weight

USE/PURPOSE

Females/Hens

⇒

Ornamental, pet and breeding. You can even get a few colorful medium-sized eggs

Eggs⇒
	Color:	Cream, blue or green
	Qty/Yr:	50 – 125
	Size:	Medium
	They will start to try hatch eggs from their first lay
	Start to lay around 6 to 12 weeks old. They lay consistently through the year
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Broody:	Yes	They make good broody ducks and will sit other ducks’ eggs
Mothers:	Yes	They are good mothers and foster mothers
Meat:	Yes	Although they are Bantams they are still good meat birds and mature early
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Pets:	Yes	Docile, friendly and really calm birds
Show:	No	Although they are not listed by the APA
Prime:	7 yrs	They lay right up to between 8 to 9 years of age if they stay healthy

Males/Drakes

⇒

Pet, Breeding and ornamental

Breed:	Yes	Should only start to breed them at 6 months old
Start:	–	Start to get fertile at around 3 – 4 months
No. Females	5	For every 1 drake in a flock
Aggressive	No	They are very docile and friendly ducks
Meat	Yes	For their size, they make good meat birds that mature quickly
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Pets:	Yes	They make excellent pets
Show:	Yes	Although not listed by the APA they are still good show birds
Prime:	4 yrs	It is best to mate the younger drakes of up to about 4 years old

TEMPERAMENT
“Calm, friendly and a little docile”
Good with Kids?	They are great around supervised kids
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Flyers?	They are Bantams and as such can fly extremely well. You may need to have their wings clipped
Noisy Birds?	They can be a bit chatty and noisy
Interact with other ducks?	They are quite sociable with other ducks but tend to prefer ducks their own size
Best duck breeds to mix them with:	Any smaller sized domestic breeds of duck
Other animals?	They are not too fussed although it is best to keep dogs and cats away from them

IDEAL ENVIRONMENT
“They are a very hardy breed of bird. They love to have a paddle and forage”
Ideal Garden Size?	Small to large
Can be Confined?	As long as the pen is big enough and they have access to dipping water
Free-Range	As long as they are safe from predators
Penned Free-Ranging?	Yes
Foragers	Yes
Endures heat well	Yes
Endures cold well	Yes
Special Requirements?	No
Ideal Duck House:	Enough space for them to nest and or cuddle down
Ideal Duck Pond:	A paddling pool or small pond
Flock/Paddling Size:	2 or more ducks in the flock
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GOOD TO KNOW
“They are an extremely endangered breed of duck with just on over 1000 ducks left with only about 500 breeding ducks.”
Special Care/Attention Requirements?	Check with the American Livestock Conservancy
Known Predators:	Check with animal control in your area for known predators
Conservations Status:	Critical For more information on poultry, conservation status, check the American Livestock Conservancy Website
Breeders Clubs:	It is best to check with the American Poultry Association for various clubs and or organizations.
Where to buy them:	Duck Creek Farm or check with the American Livestock Conservancy
Other:	If you do not want to risk having your ducks shipped check with your local poultry farms for advice on your nearest supplier.

HISTORY

The Australian Spotted Duck was developed in the United States of America in the 1920’s. It was developed by John Kriner and Stanley Mason who were both from Pennsylvania.

The Australian Spotted Duck was developed from crossing Northern Pintail, Mallard and Call ducks. There was also an unidentified Australian breed of duck. These four breeds were kept together, and they interbred for many generations before carefully selected off-spring were used to create the Australian Spotted duck.

It was not until 1990 that the breed was more available to the public and duck owners. Although it is a breed that is quite popular for exhibitioners and duck meat/egg connoisseurs their numbers are still very low. They are listed on the Livestock Conservancy register as “study” which means they are being closely watched to ensure their numbers do not diminish to a critical stage.

For its size, this Bantam breed of duck is an excellent all-around duck and makes a really good backyard duck breed. They will keep the garden well rid of pests as well as mosquitos’ as the larvae are a tasty treat for these little ducks. But be warned as they can fly extremely well they do tend to prefer sticking close to their home patch. It is advisable, however, to have their wing clipped to ensure that they do not fly off.

Health

They do not have any major known health issues. But all domestic animals should have regular health and pest checks. Ensure they are vaccinated if required.

Ducks need water to ensure they do not get “wet feather” disease. This is where the preening gland dries out. Water also stops them from getting pests such as mites, fleas, ticks, lice, etc.
Well, fed ducks should hardly have any health issues.
Any birds kept in a flock need to be dewormed. Although ducks are not as prone as other poultry they should still have a de-worming regime. Speak to a local vet or poultry experts for advice. Our article on Healthy Ducks has some great tips and advice on de-worming ducks.