Welsh Harlequin Ducklings

Valley Hatchery’s Welsh Harlequin Ducklings are a productive and calm breed well suited for backyard flocks and small farms. The Welsh Harlequin was developed in Wales in 1949 by Leslie Bonnett from Khaki Campbell stock. The breed was imported into the United States in the late 1960s and accepted into the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection in 2001 in the Light Duck class. Welsh Harlequins are known for their calm, inquisitive temperament and strong foraging ability. They adapt well to free range and backyard environments and are considered an easy breed to manage, making them a good choice for families and small scale poultry keepers. Valley Hatchery offers the Silver Welsh Harlequin variety only. This is the variety recognized by the American Poultry Association in the United States. Females have lighter, softly patterned plumage with cream and buff tones, while drakes display a clean silver pattern with a greenish head. Welsh Harlequins are reliable layers of large white eggs and can produce over 100 eggs per year under good care. Ducklings may be sexed at hatch by bill color with experience, though vent sexing remains the most accurate method. Adult drakes average about 5.5 pounds, with females around 4.5 pounds. Some hens will go broody and raise their own ducklings. The Silver Welsh Harlequin offers a dependable balance of egg production, temperament, and appearance in a manageable size.