Duck Breed Spotlight: Khaki Campbell
Breed History
The Khaki Campbell was first developed in Gloucestershire, England in the late 1800s by Adele Campbell. She wanted a duck that could supply her family with both eggs and meat. Using a Fawn and White Runner crossed with Rouens and Mallards, Mrs. Campbell created a duck that had the larger body while still retaining excellent egg-laying ability.
The American Poultry Association first recognized the Campbell duck breed in 1941. Currently, there are 4 color varieties in North America: Khaki, Dark, White Sport and Pied. Only the Khaki variety is APA recognized.
Personality
The Khaki Campbell breed is an active breed that likes to move, so give them plenty of space in their run and housing. They are very good foragers and happily seek out weed seeds, insects, and worms to supplement their diet. If you want your ducks to be friendly toward humans when they mature, make sure the ducks are handled as ducklings as much as possible. The Khaki Campbell is sometimes described by some owners as skittish, but if handled correctly and often, they usually adapt to any caregiver.
Physical Attributes
The APA classifies the Khaki Campbell as a light-class breed. The average weight for a full-grown duck is around 4 to 4.5 pounds. The ducks lay an average of 165 to 240 eggs per year. The egg color is white and averages 75-85 grams in weight. Khaki Campbells tend to begin laying when they are 5 to 7 months old.
Is your goal to have duck eggs year-round? Consider getting Khaki Campbell ducklings in staggered ages so they mature at different times of the year for a continuous egg supply.
The Khaki Campbell drakes have khaki brown-colored bodies, dark coffee-colored heads that may have some green sheen to them, with dark tail feathers. The Khaki Campbell ducks are a more all-over khaki brown with slightly darker heads and necks. The duck’s head is not nearly as dark as the drake’s head, which is the easiest way to determine the gender of adult Khaki Campbells aside from the obvious drake feather.
Consider adding the Khaki Campbell duck breed to your homestead if you’re interested in keeping ducks for eggs and beauty. Do you already own this wonderful breed? Leave us a comment below and tell us what you enjoy about them.
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I love my Khaki Campbells. I have 22 of them. They are fabulous birds. This is my first year with them and Im excited for next month since they should start laying. I got 5 drakes and 10 hens from one hatchery l. And 7 hens from another hatchery with a 2 month age difference. I plan to hatch my own in the future. I have the 7 hens banded and will pair them with the best of the drakes.
I will say that while they don’t fly when startled they will fly about 10 ft high for about 25 yards. Keep that in mind when keeping them. I also handled them a lot when little but they are still skittish but will come about 5 feet away for feed.
They are a joy to look at in the pond and while resting under a shade tree. Great foraging ducks and beautiful colors. I have one drake with an almost blueish bill. Not sure if that is normal but he is a champion looking duck.
I found your site looking for standards for the breed and you did perfectly.
Thanks,
Derek
Derek,
Thank you for reading and taking the time to give us your feedback! It sounds like you have a great flock of Khaki Campbells!