Breed Spotlight: The Swedish Duck
Breed Origin
The Swedish duck originated around 1830 in the region of Pomerania, which at the time was a part of the Kingdom of Sweden. By 1884, the first Swedish ducks had been imported into the United States. The breed was included in the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection in 1904.
Blue Swedish male and female duck pair. Notice the drake feather of the male in front.
Appearance
The Swedish duck breed is a medium-class duck with an average adult weight of 6.5 to 8 pounds. Currently, the only color variety of the Swedish that the American Poultry Association recognizes is the Blue Swedish. The Swedish is more commonly seen as the black color variant. Both color variants have an all-over body color of shades of blue to black, respectively. Males usually have darker heads, and both genders have a white chest “bib.” Either gender may have white in their wing feathers, and the APA Standard of Perfection for the Blue Swedish calls for this trait to be expressed, but few show quality ducks possess it. The bill of an adult male Swedish is blue-green, while the female’s bill is a slate gray color. The leg color of both genders is black as ducklings, turning lighter gray to orange as adults.Personality
The Swedish duck is considered a good “starter” duck because of its calm personality. The Swedish is a fairly good forager, and the females are attentive mothers. The Swedish is even calm and friendly enough to allow children to handle them if children have raised them from their hatch.
Egg and Meat Production
The Swedish duck lays around 100-160 eggs annually. Among the many duck breeds available, this is considered a lower output of eggs. So if that is your goal, the Swedish may not be the best choice for high egg production. The eggs are usually white, but some females may lay eggs with a slight greenish hue to the shell. With an average adult weight of 6 to 8 pounds, a finished table bird can weigh around 4 to 5 pounds after processing. The Swedish makes a friendly dual-purpose duck for meat and eggs. Let us know if you keep the Swedish duck and how you enjoy having them. Leave us a comment below.Related Posts You Might Like
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I have both blue and black Swedish ducks and keep them as pets. They are both curious, beautiful, intelligent, and fun to watch, but my blue is much friendlier than my black. But what my black lacks in friendliness, she makes up for in beauty! My black hen actually has a green-hued black feathered head, with both blue and purple-hued black feathers along her back that fade into a lovely deep teal towards her tail, and has a really neat white speckled patch on her chest.
My blue is very sweet and cuddly, and wants to be near me all the time, though she prefers being as close to my face as possible over anything else. She will follow me everywhere I go if I let her!
Both types are wonderful flock additions and are a joy to have!
Sounds like you have some wonderful pets to enjoy! Thanks for sharing your experience with this great breed.
My question is how did u get them to where they would cuddle. I have 2. I have had them for a month and a half. They are pets and they are inside . They have their own bed and go outside through out the day. I just don’t want them wondering away. I talk to mine and if they are roaming in the house they will come to the same room but they still run when I try to hold them. I have a male Mallard. I kept them separated right now till they get a little older. But I want to cuddle mine.
Hi Lucinda. We don’t have any experience with keeping ducks as house pets and making them appreciate being cuddled. Poultry in general just aren’t quite to the same level as companionship and domestication as dogs. It sounds like you’re doing everything you can to help your ducks become accustomed to living close to people. Good luck!
I also have 2 Swedish Ducks and a drake they were given to us from a little girl 8 years old she use to hold them also. They roamed the city neighborhood there. Now with us they have 20 acres and a very large pond which they LOVE. They follow me every where very vocal and funny to watch . I’m scared for them at night as they refuse to go in the coop we bought for them so now my husband bought 6 chicken hens (14 weeks old) as everyone has said the ducks will follow them in for the night. Their heated water bowl is just outside the coop as well as the food bowls. But they forge from the pond like crazy. Watch them when 1 has caught a frog is the funniest they as they run and chase that one and play tug a war with them. In the pond they swim close to each other and I believe the fish are nibbling on their feet and they all of a sudden SQUAK loud and stretch up, swim fast with their heads stretched out low to the water then they turn around and go right back to the same spot and start all over again. I would Love to get 2 more females.
Christine,
Your ducks sound like great additions to your homestead! It’s definitely tricky to train them to go in at night. My personal ducks took months of repetition before they finally did it on their own. I had to feed them dinner in there every night to entice them in. You might just have to catch them and put them in each night until they get the hang of it. My ducks and chickens free range together, but do not go together at night, so I can’t speak to how well they will follow the chickens, but I hope it works out! I’ll cross my fingers for you!
I have two Swedish Ducks. I have a Black Swedish Duck and Blue Swedish Duck. I have so much fun with them. They are so cute and friendly. They get a long with my two Pekin Ducks.
I have two Swedish blues and two Swedish blacks. They are so smart, and curious, but all six of my ducks are only a few weeks old and are still a bit skittish. The just sit with them and talk to them and put my hands in their brooder so they can come over and check me out. They love to nibble on my fingers, eat mushed peas from my hand, and will occasionally lay in my hand and while they aren’t fond of being picked up, once I have them against me, they will settle right down and snuggle, often still nibbling and picking at me wherever they can reach. I’m dying to find out if they are boys or girls so I can get more ducks to balance out the numbers ❤️
Is the bill color always a reliable indicator of sex? Neither of my blues have a drake feather yet and neither one really quacks, at least not loud enough to hear over my peking. One has the green bill and the other has blue black, so I’d like to believe there’s 1 male & 1 female but I don’t want to rely on that if it’s not always the case.
Hi Brynn! Bill color is a reliable indicator of sex, but I’m not sure at what age it develops and I know it can change some. I’ve found that my ducklings are usually quacking around 5-6 weeks old and then the male/female feathering comes in shortly there after, so hopefully it will be more apparent soon. Crossing my fingers for you that you have a male and a female!