Birds Guide

An 8 week old Khaki Campbell (rear) and a 13 week old Mallard

A Khaki Campbell (or just Campbell) is a breed of domesticated duck kept for its high level of egg production. The breed was developed by Adele Campbell of England at the end of the 19th century.^[1] The "Khaki" portion of the name refers to the duck's typical color.

Adult Campbell ducks weigh approximately 4 pounds. Campbells can come in three color varieties: khaki, dark and white. The Khaki Campbell duck is mostly khaki colored with a darker head. They have Mallard, Rouen and Runner duck blood in them.

The egg production of the Campbell breed can exceed even the most efficient of egg laying domestic chickens, with the breed laying an average of 300 eggs a year.^[2].

This breed of duck is listed as watch by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.^[3]

History

In the late 1800s Adele Campbell purchased a Fawn and White Indian Runner Duck which was an exceptional layer (195 eggs in 197 days) and crossed it with a Rouen in an attempt to create a strain that would lay well and have bigger bodies.^[4] The offspring were crossed with Mallards to increase their hardiness.^[5] The resulting birds were prolific layers. The "Campbell" breed was introduced to the public in 1898. In an attempt to create a more attractive buff-colored duck Mrs. Campbell crossed her original Campbells with Penciled Runner ducks. The resulting color reminded Mrs. Campbell of British army uniforms, so she named these new ducks "Khaki Campbell".^[1]

References