Rouen ducks are one of the world’s largest duck breeds and make excellent meat and domestic exhibition choices. These ducks have gentle temperaments and adapt to most of their surroundings. One trait that sets them apart from other duck breeds is their preference for not flying.
Rouen Duck Origins and Uses
Rouen ducks originated from France, but eventually gained prominence after the breed’s distribution to England. Many of them are slimmer in the wild than their domestic counterparts; some might mistake them for Mallards due to their similar color schemes. They got their namesake from the Rhone region of France, and their “roan” color scheme.
Their appearance significantly altered after years of domestication after their introduction to England. Through selective breeding, the Rouen eventually grew stockier and doubled in weight.
Historically, Rouen ducks acted as the national standard for meat birds until the introduction of the Pekin in 1873. While not as commercially valuable as the Pekin, several people consider Rouen duck meat a delicacy in the culinary arts.
Many people breed Rouen ducks for exhibition and their meat. As all-purpose birds, they’re valuable on most markets. While some argue the breed matures too slowly and doesn’t lay as many eggs as other breeds, smaller farms can profit from them in local markets.
Rouen duck meat has high percentages of fat, making them ideal for many types of delectable dishes. It might take a few extra weeks for them to reach an ideal butcher weight compared to other breeds. Despite their meat’s fat content, it’s considered lean, juicy, and tender. Some wait until the birds are nine months old before butchering, while others do it a few months earlier.
Physical Characteristics
Although male and female Rouen ducks look strikingly similar to Mallards, they aren’t the same breed; they are much larger and heavier than them. Their plumage color is also brighter than Mallards. In addition, production Rouens are lighter and have a slimmer build than their standard counterparts.
Production Rouens weigh between six to eight pounds, while standard Rouens weigh between nine and 11 pounds. Although the average height of this breed varies, they can measure over 20 inches tall.
Rouen drakes have brown necks or breasts, gray bodies with blue markings on their wings, orange feet, yellow bills, a white ring around their necks, and bright green heads.
Female Rouens have brown bills, orange feet, dark mahogany feathers with penciling patterns on their wings, heads, necks, and bodies. Like their male counterparts, they also have a blue streak on their wings.
Ducklings have yellow, downy feathers and dark brown patches, beaks, legs, and facial stripes. Although they share similar characteristics to Mallard ducklings, Rouen ducklings have two stripes on their face, one across its eye and one under the eyes, while mallards only have one.
Do Rouen Ducks Fly?
Although it might be safe to assume that all ducks can fly, Rouen ducks aren’t prominent flyers. In fact, their heavier weight makes it harder for them to fly, so you’re more likely to see them escaping from their enclosures. However, you should consider staying vigilant for predators, such as foxes, weasels, coyotes, and feral cats.
Rouen Duck Lifespan
The lifespan of Rouen ducks depends on how you raise them. When breeding them for their meat, these ducks take about a year to mature to their full size; keep in mind that they slowly mature compared to other breeds used for duck meat.
When breeding them for decoration or keeping them as pets, their average lifespan in captivity ranges between five and nine years. However, they might also live up to 12 years if you keep them as healthy as possible.
In the wild, Rouen ducks might live at least five years. This average can vary based on their environment’s conditions, exposure to diseases, and the abundance of natural predators.
Although well-kept Rouens might not get sick too often, it would be best to observe their behavior and activity to prevent health issues. One prominent health risk this breed is susceptible to is bumblefoot. Since Rouen ducks don’t fly, they’re more likely to cut their feet on hard or rough surfaces, allowing bacteria to enter those wounds and cause infections.
Rouen Duck Diet
Adult Rouen ducks typically eat or forage grains and grasses found within their habitats. Although this natural diet might be convenient for your ducks, you should be careful about pesticides that can potentially harm them.
Whether you raise them for their meat or exhibition, you might also want to consider feeding them high-quality duck feed. You can opt for commercial-brand feed or create a homemade blend of corn, peas, barley, and oats. Providing clean food and water is essential for Rouen duck owners interested in increasing their lifespans.
Rouen ducklings usually eat vegetation, grains, fruits, and mealworms. You should avoid feeding Rouen ducks bread because its empty carbs lack nutritional value, causing malnutrition or stunted wing growth.
Rouen Duck Breeding and Egg Production
While some bird species tend to mate for life, Rouen ducks don’t. Some drakes usually mate with several hens per year, helping them produce hundreds of eggs. Although some people consider them excellent brooders, others might find them insufficient; due to their large size, female Rouens might accidentally crush their eggs while nesting.
They don’t have a specific egg-laying season; they typically lay their eggs year-round.
When they’re about seven to ten months old, Rouen ducks begin laying eggs and lay about five to ten eggs per clutch. Some ducks begin laying as early as 16 weeks. Production Rouens tend to lay more eggs throughout the year than standard Rouens.
Most standard Rouen ducks typically lay a maximum of 125 eggs per year, while production Rouens lay between 140 to 180 eggs yearly. However, these numbers vary depending on the duck’s condition; while some ducks can lay over 100 eggs yearly, others might produce 50 at most. Due to this rate, several individuals prefer using them for meat instead of producing eggs.
Appearance-wise, Rouen duck eggs have white shells. However, some might have bluish or greenish tints. In addition, most of their eggs typically weigh between 80 and 95 grams, making them considerably larger than other breeds. Eggs usually hatch within four weeks.
Mother Rouen ducks typically experience brooding behaviors due to their high fertility rates. You might need to supervise them to ensure they don’t break the eggs in their nests.
Rouen Duck Behavior
Many people consider Rouen ducks one of the friendliest duck breeds. Although Rouen drakes might become aggressive when guarding their territory or during mating season, the breed’s docile nature allows them to get along well with other Rouens and duck breeds. We recommend supervising them when interacting with dogs or cats.
Due to their social nature, Rouen ducks enjoy preening each other. They can reach hard-to-reach feathers by rotating their heads backward. Rouen ducks make large quacking sounds, but are less chatty than other breeds. For example, they might be talkative when demanding food. Female rouens tend to be more vocal than their male counterparts.
Due to their weight and inability to fly, Rouen ducks have a particularly slow waddle. Additionally, they bob their heads up and down when feeling happy and repeatedly quack whenever they see you.
Keeping Rouen Ducks as Pets
Due to their colorful plumage and docile temperament, some people prefer keeping them as pets instead of using them for meals. However, Rouen ducks are comfortable living on farms and in yards. Sociable breeds like this get along with many ducks and people. If you consider raising them as ducklings, they’re more likely to enjoy being held or hugged.
When raising a pet Rouen duck, it would be best to keep them outdoors and provide them reasonable roaming space they can’t get inside. Most Rouen ducks are quiet, but might make noise when acting territorial. They might be prone to becoming smelly if you don’t clean up after them.
For dog and cat owners, they might have this question on their mind: “why would somebody want a Rouen duck as a pet?” Luckily, there are several reasons why a person would want a pet Rouen duck for their home. Some reasons people may choose Rouen ducks as pets include:
- Easy maintenance
- Pest maintenance for your grass
- Friendly personality
- They can tolerate hot and cold climates when placed in comfortable duck houses
Tips on Rouen Duck Care
Rouen ducks are one of the world’s hardiest duck breeds, so if you want them to live long, healthy lives, there are several things you should consider before bringing them into your home.
Their large size requires a lot of space for roaming and resting. Consider the size of your yard before purchasing several Rouen ducks. When building a house, space them at least five square feet apart. You should also provide them a small, clean pond for swimming and drinking.
You should keep your ducks enclosed in a secure shelter at night to keep predators away from them. Also, feed them non-contaminated duck feed to keep them in top condition.
Rouen Duck Cost
Before buying a Rouen duck, you should consider how much money you’ll need to spend raising it for companionship or their meat. Ducklings usually cost between eight or eleven dollars; this price varies based on the number of birds you purchase and their gender. Several markets also offer purchasing options for eggs if you want to incubate and hatch them yourself.
The average for buying an adult Rouen duck is around ten dollars per bird. If you plan on breeding several ducks, consider how many hens you’d want in your yard with your drake.
Most quality duck feed costs about $30; depending on the size you buy, you might have to buy bags every month. Medical costs vary, depending on their condition and how much your local vet charges.
You can buy Rouen ducks at your local livestock markets or distributors, such as Hoover’s Hatchery or Metzer Farms.
Noteworthy Facts About Rouen Ducks
- They have unique color variants, including black, blue, fawn, and pastel
- Rouen drakes’ heads turn green at 16 weeks of age
- They lay the least amount eggs compared to other duck breeds
- Production Rouens are slimmer than Standard Rouens
Info Table
| Purpose | Meat production or exhibition |
| Country of origin | France |
| Breed Class | Heavy |
| Weight – Drake | 9.9 to 11.9 pounds |
| Weight – Hen | 9.03 to 11.9 pounds |
| Eggs per year | 25-125 (exhibition), 140-180 (production) |
| Egg size | Large |
| Egg weight | 80 to 95 grams |
| Egg production age | 16 weeks |
| Diet | Grains, grasses, aquatic plants, high-quality duck feed |
| Lifespan | 5 to 9 years |
| Flying ability | Poor due to their heavier weight |
| Personality | Docile |
| Distinguishing features | Short and broad wings, massive heads, slow waddle, long keel |
| Varieties | Black, Blue, Fawn, Pastel |
| Cost (USD) | $10 per adult |