THE CAMPBELL DUCK
As with the Aylesbury there are some differences with the exhibition, the Utility and the pet strains of Campbells . The latter two are rarely as well marked but the few Utility strains left of Khaki Campbells in the country can have phenomenal laying ability - better than many pure breed hens these days. Most strains bred in the domestic environment are pet birds, which can be disappointing layers depending on the selection of the breeder. There is now only two major commericial producers of the high egg laying Khaki Campbell now, and that is Kortlang in Kent, and Welshegg in Wales. Commercial hybrids like the Cherry valley 2000 which is based on the Pekin, are now increasingly found in commercial duck egg producing farms, having been improved for greater feed efficiency and productivity.

A White Campbell drake

The Khaki Campbell was produced in Great Britain by Mrs Campbell of Uley at the turn of this century. The origins are from the wild mallard; the fawn and white Runner and the Rouen. She only produced a simple breed standard initially because the main purpose was to retain the egg laying properties. The best lines in the past have been recorded to lay nearly 340 eggs a year.

The White Campbell developed as a sport from the Khaki.

The Dark Campbell was created by Mr H.R.S Humphreys in Devon to make sex linkage in ducks possible.

The Campbell is a busy hardy little duck - always on the go looking for bugs; swimming; investigating their surroundings. Birds that have a fair amount of space can get quite fit and may fly; if this is a problem - clipping one wing usually sorts the problem out.

Eggs : white, about 2.5 ounces; numbers can be anything from 50 a year to 250 a year, its imperative to find out what type of selection has been done on the past 5 generations when selecting a breeder if you are wanting good layers.
Meat: they were high quality lean roasters about 4 pounds in weight. Almost no breeders are selecting for meat so this can be optimistic.

some young khakis coming off the pond

The Campbell is alert and slightly upright in carriage (but not more than 35 degrees) with the head held high. The features and form of the head and neck is slender; neat and refined with medium proportions. The body should be full but compact. The wings are carried close and fairly high and the tail should be short and slightly elevated. the legs are medium length, set well apart and not too far back. The plumage is tight and sleek.

The Khaki Campbell drake has a green bronze head, neck, rump and flashes; the rest of his plumage is an even warm shade of khaki with lighter shading on the lower part of the breast. His bill should be greenish blue as dark as possible; dark orange legs and brown eyes.
The ducks' warm khaki plumage is pencilled throughout, with the head and neck being less so and a slightly darker shade. She has a dark slate bill; brown eyes and the legs and webs should be as close to the colour of the plumage as possible.

rather older birds - definitely utility type

The White Campbell should be pure white throughout with orange bill, legs and webs and grey blue eyes. Often in farm white Campbells the bill is more flesh coloured.

a trio of White Campbells enjoying a swim - they do have orange bills - honest; its just the photo has been compressed for your viewing

The Dark Campbell drake has a beetle green head and neck as is its rump. The rest of the body is light brown with each feather pencilled with dark grey brown; the rump is beetle green and tail dark grey brown. The bill is bluish green with a black bean, brown eyes and right orange legs and webs.
The ducks is mainly dark brown; lighter over the shoulders. She also has a beetle green rump. Her bill is slatey brown with a black bean; brown eyes and as with the Khaki her legs should be as close to her body colour as possible

Tim and Jill Bowis
Kintaline Mill Farm, Benderloch, OBAN Argyll PA37 1QS Scotland
all text and images are copyright, do not use without express permission and links back to this site. Website online : 1999-2010.
Contact Us ~ ~ About Us Scotland

Read Our Guestbook! | Please Sign Our Guestbook!