Welsh Harlequin ducks are a lightweight breed. They are curious creatures. The Welsh Harlequin isn’t easily spooked, which makes it easy to keep around other animals. They’re suitable as productive egg layers and butchered for lean meat. They’re highly adaptable and easy to maintain. It’s no wonder they’re popular as pets and backyard ducks.
Welsh Harlequin Duck Origins and Uses
A funny thing happened in Criccieth, Wales, in 1949. Leslie Bonnet, a retired British Royal Air Force member, had been breeding Khaki Campbell ducks when two ducklings with unusual coloring were born. The lighter feathers sparked Bonnet’s interest and developed a new line, calling them Honey Campbells.
Bonnet had changed the name to Welsh Harlequin shortly after. In 1960, Bonnet published a guide to duck husbandry, entitled Practical Duck-Keeping. He praised Welsh Harlequin ducks as better egg producers than the Khaki Campbell, with more than 300 eggs annually.
In 1968, John Fugate imported Welsh Harlequin eggs to the United States. Fugate later enlisted the help of Dave Holderread, author of Storey’s Guide to Raising Ducks, to diversify the breed. So, Fugate and Bonnet continued to breed Welsh Harlequin ducks, creating two recognized color variations.
Breeders can butcher Welsh Harlequins for meat. The lean meat has a robust flavor and isn’t greasy. However, egg production is their primary use.
Physical Characteristics of the Welsh Harlequin Ducks
Welsh Harlequin ducks share a few similar physical traits with Khaki Campbells, but lighter in color and often slightly more substantial in size.
The Welsh Harlequin has a full abdomen, a medium-sized back, and weighs 4.5 to 5.5 pounds. Their body is long with an oval head topped with colorful plumage. The legs and webbed feet are orange with black toenails. However, the legs become browner as they age. Their tails are bronze or darker and edged with creamy white and brown.
The drakes have greenish to black plumage on the head and neck. Their necks and forewings are reddish-brown. The bills of Welsh Harlequin drakes are grey or dark green.
Hens have frosted plumage that is reddish to chestnut with creamy white shoulders. Their bills are yellow or tan with a dark tip.
There are two color variations: gold and silver. The most obvious difference is that silver Welsh Harlequin ducks have iridescent blue speculum. However, you can also tell the drakes apart as gold drakes have blacker heads. Another notable color difference is that gold hens have more brownish frost.
Do Welsh Harlequin Ducks Fly?
Welsh Harlequin ducks are poor flyers. While they can get a couple of feet off the ground, they won’t get far.
So if you’re keeping Welsh Harlequin ducks in a fenced-in backyard, the ducks won’t escape by flying out.
Welsh Harlequin Ducks Lifespan
As Welsh Harlequin ducks originated from pure Khaki Campbells, there isn’t information on their behavior or lifespan in the wild. Therefore, the breed shouldn’t be set free or released into the wild. In addition, the Welsh Harlequin ducks are likely to starve or be targeted by predators.
Domestic Welsh Harlequin ducks have an average lifespan of 9-12 years. The hens are capable of egg-laying for most of their lives if you maintain their health.
One common health issue to watch for is bumblefoot. The condition is a bacterial infection with inflammation, often caused by injury. Prevent bumblefoot by keeping ducks away from rough or sharp surfaces, providing clean bedding, with perches less than 18 inches off floor level.
All ducks require constant fresh water to clean their bills and eyes. A reliable water source prevents wet feather disease, where the preening gland dries out. In addition, when ducks can wash regularly, they keep away pests, such as mites, ticks, fleas, or lice.
Welsh Harlequin ducks are also easy targets for predators because of their light coloring and inability to fly. Therefore, they need a safe, enclosed environment safe from potential predators or rodents.
While not as prone as poultry, ducks can get worms. Therefore, you should have a regular de-worming regime.
Welsh Harlequin Duck Diet
As foragers, Welsh Harlequin ducks regularly eat bugs and pasture greens. However, that shouldn’t be the sole source of food. Duck feed is the best option, but poultry feed is a solid second choice.
Adults need 130 grams of food daily. Ducklings digest quickly and need to be fed regularly, with a minimum of three times daily. Adults can be fed twice, such as morning and night. But if you have time, spreading out multiple feedings is best.
Chick feed is safe for ducklings, as they benefit from similar nutrition. However, ducks do require higher amounts of niacin and vitamin B3. Therefore, you can add half a cup of brewer’s yeast to every 10 pounds of feed to supplement chick feed. Preventing niacin deficiency is crucial for a duckling’s health, especially leg and joint development.
Starter feed, which is higher in protein, should be a part of your ducklings’ diet for their first few weeks. Then, switch to grower feed, which is lower in protein, as they continue to grow.
Ducklings easily choke, so be cautious of the makeup of the feed. Crumbles or wet mash is best. Avoid pellets, which tend to be too large.
Suppose you want to give your Welsh Harlequins a treat. In that case, they can eat small fruits and vegetables, including peas, cucumbers, lettuce, strawberries, and tomatoes. Remember, you should cut the pieces to prevent choking.
Welsh Harlequin Duck Breeding and Egg Production
Welsh Harlequin ducks can lay 100-350 eggs yearly. The hens are good sitters and attentive mothers. You have to oversee the eggs unless you want plenty of ducklings.
Hens can start laying eggs around 25-30 weeks old. Healthy hens will continue to lay up to 8-9 years of age. The eggs are large, and the coloring is pearly white or sometimes tinted.
Welsh Harlequin Duck Behavior
As one of the friendliest breeds, Welsh Harlequin ducks are fantastic for first-time owners or breeders. They’re generally a quiet breed, although the hens sometimes make noise when laying eggs or anticipating mealtime.
The ducklings can be a handful, although their cuteness can be worth the effort. If you’re considering Welsh Harlequin ducklings as a starter breed or as a pet, keep in mind that the ducklings need supervision because they easily choke on food or water. They also need to stay dry and be kept in a brooder.
Welsh Harlequin drakes get along with other drakes and won’t instigate fights. However, the drakes have a voracious libido. For the sake of the hens, it’s better to have a single drake. More than one might overwork the hens, resulting in reproductive damage or even death.
Keeping Welsh Harlequin Ducks as Pets
If you’re considering a pet duck, Welsh Harlequin ducks are suitable because they are docile and need companionship. Besides an interest in their fellow ducks, they are curious about their humans and love being friendly.
While they get along well with other ducks, they can be tentative around other pets. It’s essential that even as a pet, Welsh Harlequin ducks need a flock. You might be able to give your pet duck hours of attention, but you can’t be there all the time. It’s best if you adopt 2-3 Welsh Harlequins so that they don’t get lonely.
Additionally, if you’re considering keeping a duck indoors, remember that ducks can’t be potty trained. However, you can find duck diapers to prevent messes when your pet is wandering outside their house or pen.
Tips on Welsh Harlequin Duck Care
Welsh Harlequin ducks are relatively easy to care for because of their docile nature and ability to tolerate heat and cold well. However, if you live somewhere cold, you’ll need to provide a warmer environment for the winter.
Since ducks don’t have teeth, they use grit to help grind food. If you give ducks enough outdoor time, they can forage for grit using small rocks and sand. However, the producers of commercial feed grind it enough that ducks don’t need grit. If you use alternative or homemade food, consider mixing in store-bought chick grit.
When using wood shavings in their brooder or house, don’t use cedar. The fumes of cedar shavings can be harmful.
Welsh Harlequin Duck Costs
Welsh Harlequin ducks are not a wild breed. You can only find them available from breeders. Their rarity and unusual coloring mean they cost more than many other duck breeds, including their originator, the Khaki Campbell.
Ducklings (unsexed) typically cost between $7-12, hens $9-18, and drakes $5-10. You can also commonly get 1-3 ducklings or hens for the price of a single duck, which is crucial for creating a flock for companionship.
Your ducklings need a temperature starting at 90-95 degrees, dropping by a degree every few days until their feathers have grown in at about 8-10 weeks. Then, you can slowly change the temperature to reflect the outside temperature (assuming it isn’t snowing outside).
A low-cost brooder may be available for $20-30 dollars, depending on heat lamp costs, quantity, and materials used to create the enclosed space. Feeding and water stations will cost another $20, or you can upcycle old containers from your kitchen. A more expensive setup might cost $200 or more.
Hay or straw is necessary for ducks to build nests and lay eggs. A hay bale on the smaller side may be priced at $3 to $10. You might also add some foraged materials for free. However, it’s better to provide them with something to start with rather than relying on them using backyard foraging.
The feed can be pricey, with some store-feed costing upwards of $60 for 40 lbs. on the lower end.
Noteworthy Facts About the Welsh Harlequin Duck
Welsh Harlequin ducks are a heritage poultry breed. As they are a critically endangered breed, they are on the watch list of The Livestock Conservancy. Their status as a heritage breed emphasizes the preservation of the individual health and general population of Welsh Harlequins.
Information Table
For a summary, read the Welsh Harlequin information table.
| Purpose | Eggs, Meat |
| Country of origin | Wales |
| Breed Class | Light |
| Weight – Drake | 4.5 to 5.5 lbs |
| Weight – Hen | 4.5 to 5.5 lbs |
| Eggs per year | 100-350 |
| Egg size | Large |
| Egg weight | 75-85 g |
| Egg production age | 25-30 weeks |
| Diet | 130 g of feed daily |
| Lifespan | 9-12 years |
| Flying ability | Poor |
| Personality | Docile, Active |
| Distinguishing features | Greenish or black neck and head (Drakes); Frosted reddish-brown and cream (Hens) |
| Varieties | Gold, Silver |
| Cost (USD) | $5+ (M), $9+ (F), $7+ (duckling) |