Buff Ducklings

Baby Buff Ducklings

• Dual Purpose
• 150-220 Eggs annually
• friendly, good foragers
• Drakes 7.5 Lbs Hens 6.5 Lbs
• APA Medium duck
• Conservancy Status: Threatened

Buff Ducks are good all-around ducks. They are good layers and also make good meat birds.

William Cook, of Orpington, Kent, developed the Buff Duck for its buff color, and to serve as an all-purpose duck. Runners, Aylesbury, Cayugas, and Rouens were all used in the development of Buff Ducks. Mr. Cook was also the breeder who developed the Buff Orpington Chicken.

The Buff Duck was introduced in the United States at a poultry show in Madison Square Gardens in 1908. It was accepted into the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1914. Interestingly, it is the only animal that the APA recognizes by a color-only name, and some members of the poultry fancy believe its official name should be "Orpington Duck," with Buff used to describe the variety.

While many of the people who raise Buffs do so for exhibition purposes, the breed is practical in the barnyard, as well. As commercial breeders focused on the Pekin for fast, profitable meat production, the Buff endured a drastic decline in numbers.

The word "buff" denotes a rich, brown color. Both the sexes have similarly colored plumage, with orangy-yellow legs and feet. The female has a brownish bill, while the drakes are yellow.