The Swedish duck has its origins within the early to mid 1800s in Pomerania, a area on the Baltic Sea that was as soon as managed by Sweden. The breed first got here to the USA in 1884. The one selection listed within the American Commonplace of Perfection is the blue selection, accepted in 1904.

Bodily Attributes

Blue Swedish geese are slate blue with a white bib and generally just a few white wing feathers. The drake’s head is a darker blue and he has a greenish invoice. The hen’s head and invoice, however, are the identical coloration as her physique.

The blue plumage coloration outcomes from an incompletely dominant gene that requires a mix of two alleles (variations of the identical gene). Blue Swedish geese due to this fact don’t breed true.

Mate a blue to a blue and you’re going to get solely 50% blue ducklings. Half of the remaining ducklings will likely be black and the opposite half splash.

To get 100% blue geese requires crossing black with splash. Even then, Blue Swedish geese will not be all the identical shade of blue.

Black Swedish geese are extra frequent than blues. They’re much like the Blue Swedish, solely black as a substitute of blue.

In distinction to Blue and Black Swedish, no two Splash Swedish geese are alike. Their plumage is a mix of whites and shades of blue, leading to an general look of being gentle grey.

The legs of a Swedish duck are set farther again than these of most different home duck breeds. In consequence, the Swedish duck has a considerably upright stance, much like that of a Campbell duck.

Breed Qualities

Swedish geese are gradual maturing and are comparatively small — geese attain a weight of 5 kilos, drakes 6¼ kilos. The hens are reasonably prolific layers, producing 120 to 180 giant to further giant eggs per 12 months. The shells are sometimes white, though the eggs of some Swedish geese have greenish shells. The hens will brood and are conscientious moms.

Swedish geese are notably lively and due to this fact don’t tolerate shut confinement. They’re good foragers, and their plumage coloration makes them considerably proof against predation. Though they’ll fly, they normally want to not.

The Swedish duck is exceptionally chilly tolerant and among the many hardiest of duck breeds. With its calm temperament, it makes a beautiful out of doors pet, particularly for youths. The Swedish duck can also be fashionable for exhibition and as a decorative.

Useful Hyperlinks

And that’s in the present day’s information from the Cackle Coop.

Gail Damerow is the creator of An Absolute Newbie’s Information to Elevating Yard Geese : Breeds, Feeding, Housing and Care, Eggs and Meat.