Indian Runner Ducks are a domestic breed of duck, known by their Latin name as anas platyrhynchos domesticus. What makes them a particularly unique breed of duck is that they are the only duck breed which stands upright. While all ducks have two feet and wings, these special ducks use their torso muscles to remain fully upright like a penguin.
To learn more about what makes the domestic Indian Runner Ducks beloved by many, continue reading below.
Indian Runner Ducks Origins and Uses
Indian Runner Ducks are not just the only ducks in the world that remain upright almost at all times, but they are one of the species of duck that cannot fly. Throughout history, their unique qualities have made them highly sought after as pets and known across the world as the “runner duck”, from which they get their name.
Indian Runner Ducks in the Wild
Originally, Indian Runner Ducks were found living wild in the East Indies. There, they often lived in packs and groups that contained female ducks, their male partners, and their young.
Indian Runner Ducks are still currently found on the Indonesian islands of Bali, Lombok, and Java. They can occasionally be found wandering wild and free on the Big Island in Hawaii due to being relocated hundreds of years ago before their release.
While the ducks’ name suggests wild Indian Runner Ducks come from India, no proof corroborates that idea.
The Domestication of Indian Runner Ducks
Even though wild Indian Runner Ducks are not from India, they are said to have been domesticated in India by ship traders and merchants of the East India Company when they were brought back from Indonesia by boat. At the time, the East India Company was adjoined with or rather run by the British East India Company during England’s rule of India.
The English took such a liking to the Indian Runner Duck’s comical qualities that they began breeding them for their eggs and transporting them back to England, therefore domesticating the tall bird.
Historical and Modern Uses of Indian Runner Ducks
One of the most popular historical uses for the domesticated Indian Runner Ducks includes pest control. Indian Runner Ducks were bred to be long and tall, meaning that they would not struggle underneath their weight like most typical duck breeds, but would rather be able to distribute their weight evenly in a vertical fashion.
For the Indian Runner Duck, vertical weight distribution meant the ability to take independent walking steps rather than waddling. This meant that these ducks could easily be herded out to rice fields in both India and China where they would eat the critters and bugs threatening the quality of the rice.
Laying 300 to 350 eggs a year, Indian Runner Ducks are used in the modern world for their eggs, breeding unique duck colors, and even racing. Their eggs are either used as food or to continue the breeding of the ducks’ strange penguin-like tendencies.
While duck racing for money has become illegal in the United States and internationally, there are still some fun events that take place in which the owners of the tall ducks will dress their pet ducks up in costumes and enter them in a duck-running contest. These contests are now commonly used as charity events.
Indian Runner Ducks and Human Eating Habits
While most Indian Runner Ducks are kept as pets, used for laying many eggs, or bred for their looks and friendly winning personality, some people still eat Indian Runner Ducks today.
If an Indian Runner Duck is eaten, it is most likely due to their large meat to bone ratio that supplies an ample amount of meat to the eater.
Physical Characteristics of Indian Runner Ducks
Indian Runner Ducks are a duck unlike any other due to their unique muscle structure that allows them to stand and even walk upright. Beloved for their beauty and human-like stride, the physical characteristics of Indian Runner Ducks typically include the following:
- Height: Indian Runner ducks can grow up to 30 inches in height. The smaller of the breed grows around 15 inches. Baby Indian Runner ducks look similar to other non-vertical standing ducks.
- Weight: Male adult Indian Runner Ducks grow to be 3.5 to 5.1 pounds. Female adult Indian Runner Ducks grow to be 3.1 to 4.4 pounds.
- Coloring: Indian Runner Ducks are unique in that they can have many different colors, shades, and patterns. The typical patterns include light orange-yellow in baby and young ducks of this species and greenish-yellow beaks in adult Indian Runner Ducks. They also tend to have back pied markings, brown backs, and white lines as well as a pale body. Their feathers can be gray or even golden, green, and blue.
- Feathers: A male duck, or drake, always has curly tail feathers. A female Indian Runner Duck has straight feathers across her entire body. The feathers can vary colors on the same duck and range from white, beige, gray, and brown to black, gold, blue, and green.
- Patterns: Indian Runner Ducks can have two-toned patterns, minimal vertical white stripes, or small black dots depending on the specific breed variation.
Do Indian Runner Ducks Fly?
Unlike most typical ducks seen in North America, the Indian Runner Duck cannot fly. This is most likely due to its distribution of weight and the way its legs are spread far apart.
While these specialized ducks cannot fly, they get along just fine by running. Indian Runner Ducks have been known to race each other for fun and even run up to over 12 miles per hour.
Indian Runner Duck Lifespan
Indian Runner Ducks are a family favorite and make wonderful pets. This is due, in part, to their relatively long lifespan for a bird of any kind. Indian Runner Duck lifespans can be up to the following:
- In captivity: When living in captivity, Indian Runner Ducks typically live anywhere from 8 to 12 years. This is because they tend to receive good, loving care and safety from predators such as foxes, coyotes, and badgers. They also get easy access to water and healthy well-rounded duck diets.
- In the wild: In the wild, Indian Runner Ducks live around 8 to 10 years. This is because their habitats have been compromised by pollution, oil spills, urban sprawl, and habitat reduction due to global warming. In the wild, they also face more predators that attack adult ducks for their meat.
Indian Runner Duck Diet
Indian Runner Ducks are wonderful foreages. Even in captivity, if these ducks have access to a pond they will often choose to fend for themselves rather than being fed on a particular schedule. Some of the favorite foods of Indian Runner Ducks of all ages include:
- Slugs
- Mosquitoes
- Bug larvae
- Maggots
- Snails
- Grass
- Gild greens
- Fish
- Crustaceans
- Ticks
While foraging is a favorite pastime of ducklings and adult ducks alike, Indian Runner Ducks in captivity also usually require two meals per day supplied by their owners. They should be fed a nutritious mixture of seed, bugs, and greens once in the morning just after sunrise, and once in the evening before the sun starts to set.
Indian Runner Duck Breeding and Egg Production
Unlike some other variations of ducks, Indian runner Ducks do not require any water to mate. Once an Indian Runner Duck decides to mate with a partner, they often mate for life unless the partner dies. Then, the remaining Indian Runner Duck will find a new mate and continue coupling with them.
When an Indian Runner Duck couple mates, the female lays many eggs. One female duck can lay up to 350 eggs per year, 180 of which are typically fertilized. For fertilized eggs, the incubation period lasts 28 days in which the mother duck rarely sits on her eggs.
The eggs of an Indian Runner Duck are beautifully colored and coveted by many. They come in shades of white and blue, alternating depending on the individual duck’s diet. Indian Runner Ducks are also quite large, which makes the unfertilized eggs excellent for eating. They can be anywhere from an average of 2.8 to 3 ounces in weight.
Indian Runner Duck Behavior
Indian Runner Ducks are not typically considered an aggressive duck breed. While they are usually only friendly to their owners, they will not attack guests or passersby unprovoked. They are also not as loud or verbal as common ducks. They will, however, have a panicked response if frightened or if they feel attacked by another animal. Their panic response includes any of the following:
- Opening their mouth
- Hissing
- Standing even taller
- Loud erratic calling
- Heavy breathing
- Running
- Outstretched wings or fast flapping
Their distinct characteristics and movements include head wobbles, light grooming and nibbling of each other and those they care about, and tail wobbles when they are excited, pleased, or happy.
Keeping Indian Runner Ducks as Pets
While some people enjoy keeping rabbits, cats, or even chickens as household or backyard pets, it is important to strongly consider whether a group of Indian Runner Ducks are the right pets for you. Some things to keep in mind are:
- All ducks smell and you should be prepared to clean duck feces from hay and water regularly
- Indian Runner Ducks need a lot of space to walk and run since they do not fly and seldom swim
- Indian Runner Ducks are not loud but can become loud when unhappy or afraid
- These ducks enjoy eating a mix of plant-based foods and grub that will need to be prepared for them
- Indian Runner Ducks are social animals and should live in groups of at least 4 or more
If you feel that you have the right accommodations for an Indian Runner Duck group as pets, you will find that these ducks are quite friendly and will remember people that have proven to be kind to them or feed them their favorite snacks.
Tips on Indian Runner Duck Care
Whenever caring for a bird or duck of any kind, it is imperative to be aware of your breed’s special requirements. Since Indian Runner Ducks can live in any enclosed environment as long as they receive food, water, and sunlight, some of the other requirements to keep in mind are:
- Indian Runner Ducks need love and attention and love to be pet
- Indian Runner Ducks need a dry area to sleep where they are not exposed to too much humidity or rain
- Indian Runner Ducks love to spend time in the sun and like ample time for naps
It is also a good idea to have a veterinarian that specializes in ducks on-call in case you ever face a medical emergency that you are not prepared for as a duck owner.
Indian Runner Duck Cost
The cost for keeping Indian Runner Ducks will depend on the type of food you feed them, how many ducks you have, and what additional special care you want to provide for your pet ducks. To purchase duck eggs for hatching as pets, however, you will pay anywhere from $7.00 to $15.00 per egg when buying around 20 duck eggs.
Noteworthy Facts about Indian Runner Ducks
If you are a fan of the odd, cute, and unique, Indian Runner Ducks might be the perfect pet for you. Not only are they the tallest duck standing completely upright with no difficulty, but they also run instead of fly. For those seeking a friendly pet to produce healthy and delicious eggs, consider the calm and sensitive Indian Runner Duck breed.
Info Table
| Purpose | Pet Control, Eggs |
| Country of origin | East Indies |
| Breed Class | Domestic |
| Weight – Drake | 3.5-5.1lbs |
| Weight – Hen | 3.1-4.4lbs |
| Eggs per year | 350 |
| Egg size | Jumbo |
| Egg weight | 2.8-3 Ounces |
| Egg production age | 7 Months |
| Diet | Slugs, Worms, Insects, Foliage |
| Lifespan | 8-12 Years |
| Flying ability | Cannot Fly |
| Personality | Social and Excitable |
| Distinguishing features | Upright, Looks like Bowling Pin, Run’s Rather Than Waddles |
| Varieties | Fawn & White, White, Penciled, Black, Buff, Chocolate, Cumberland Blue, and Gray |
| Cost (USD) | $7-$15 |