Aylesbury Duck Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Aylesbury duck has a unique pink bill and stands as the symbol for the town of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire England. This pure white duck has breweries, pubs and various cottage industries in the town named after it. Even the football club is known as the ducks whereby both it and the town’s coat of arms sport the image of the Aylesbury duck.

Said to have superior meat quality this calm friendly waterfowl is an excellent addition to any backyard flock. They are especially great for first-time duck owners and people with kids as they make great pets.

APPEARANCE / IDENTIFICATION

HISTORY

The actual origins of the Aylesbury duck because there were not many, if any, records of duck breeds in England before the 18th century.

The Aylesbury became a popular cottage industry around the 1690’s when white ducks were prized for their feathers. These were used for various fillers such as pillows and quilts.

Aylesbury ducks were bred in the poorer part of the town of Aylesbury which came to be known as “Duck End”. Here they owners would sometimes even have their prized Aylesbury ducks live inside their homes. Which, as one can imagine, was not at all sanitary.

As the Aylesbury had a white carcass it was known for its superior quality and exceptionally tasty meat.

In order to ensure the ducks were in good quality. The owners would protect the duck’s feet were protected by a cold tar solution. The ducks were then walked through sawdust, this, in turn, stuck to the tar. Then they would walk the ducks often some 40 odd miles to the London markets for sale. The owners of the ducks would have to break their long journeys by stopping overnight at inns that could cater for the ducks as well.

It was not until 1839 the Aylesbury duck industry flourished when the railway line, Cheddington to Aylesbury, became available to transport the ducks. This made getting the ducks to the markets a lot easier for the breeders/duck farmers.

For many years it was thought that the White Aylesbury could only be raised in the town due to the white gravel that was in ample supply in that part of the river Thame. The locals believed that the ducks got the color of their feathers and skin from digging their bills into this.

But in the mid-19th century, this myth was soon discarded when it was discovered the birds could, in fact, be bred anywhere and retain their white skin and feathers.

By 1873 large industries were breeding white ducks and the industry in Aylesbury has all but shut down. With the introduction of the Pekin duck and the by the Second World War, the town of Aylesbury’s duck industry had completely come to an end.

The Aylesbury is listed on the American Livestock Conservancy as Critical!

Health

Prone to Bumblefoot or Staph infections as many of the heavier breeds are inclined to. They will need regular foot checks.

• 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.

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