Description
A Bantam breed, the Call Duck, is a compact little duck that has captured the hearts of breeders and fanciers the world over.
The Hunting History of The Call Duck
As it goes with most poultry and fowl breeds, the exact origination is somewhat of a mystery. The Call Duck, however, has a more solid origin story. To begin with, the Call duck is a known descendent of the Mallard duck. The breed is initially thought to have originated in Asia and eventually imported to the Netherlands, where its true purpose was revealed (decoy ducks)
The Call Duck breed has various names, and eventually, the consensus to refer to the breed solely as the Call Duck was agreed upon. This was due to associations entering the picture and recognizing the breed.
With that being said, this plucky little duck was originally referred to as the Coy Duck or the Decoy Duck (and for a good reason). While popularity grew in the Netherlands, Call Duck’s usage transformed into somewhat of a hunting tool. Hence, the name (Decoy, Call, or Coy)
The Call Duck breed was introduced to Great Britain in the early-to-mid 1800s, where it was also used as a “decoy” for hunting. Eventually, the duck was recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) in the 1870s.
And ever since its induction into the APA, the Call Duck’s popularity has skyrocketed, and it has won the most championships out of any other duck breed.
Duck hunters utilized the call duck’s loud, high-pitch vocalization to lure prey to them while they hunted. In other words, the Call Duck was the original “duck call.” And here’s how it worked: hunters would restrain the tame Call Ducks at the entrance of a trap, and as the ducks made their natural call, wildfowl would respond and fall prey to the trap.
Can Call Ducks Still be Used for Hunting?
The use of Call Ducks as decoys has been banned in most regions. In fact, the practice is thought to hinder conservation efforts and lead to the over-harvesting of wildfowl. In truth, the practice is unfair to both the Call Ducks and the wild birds.
As mentioned, Call Ducks were tethered down at the trap entrance and used as bait when used for hunting purposes. Their calls were so loud and high-pitched that wild birds could hear them miles and miles away.
The call of the domestic duck lured the wild ducks into the trap. Once the large-breed ducks were in the trap, the smaller Call Ducks were allowed to leave, but the larger breeds would remain trapped.
In a way, it was almost too easy for the hunter. Hunters harvested large amounts of birds in this manner. Thus, conservation concerns arose, and the Call Duck’s role as a hunting aid came to an end.
The Call Duck’s Appearance
The Call Duck breed could easily be mistaken for a plush stuffed toy with its compact cuteness and irresistibly short beak. This adorable little duck is the thing cartoons are made from. It’s a small fowl and considered a Bantam breed.
Bantams are small versions of larger fowl, but in this case, the Call Duck is an original, or True Bantam. With that being said, they do look similar to the Mallard and are related to the larger breed.
Call Ducks will come in various colors, including apricot, bibbed, black, blue-fawn, dark-silver, magpie, pied, silver, and white. The most common colors of the Call Duck are black and white. Other colors are available and becoming more and more popular as breeders dote on their beloved breed and continue to develop the Call Duck through selective breeding.
The Call Duck breeds eyes are strikingly black or dark brown, which only adds to its cuteness. One could say it almost appears as though it has shiny buttons for the eyes.
As mentioned, the Call Duck is a small breed of duck and hens weigh approximately 15-20 ounces while drakes weigh in at 19-25 ounces.
Can You Eat Call Duck Breed Eggs?
Well, yes, of course, you can! Call Ducks lay approximately 50-150 eggs per year. While you won’t have as many eggs as you might with a chicken, you’ll still have the opportunity to enjoy a Call Duck egg from time-to-time if you’re vigilant about collecting eggs.
Call Duck eggs are usually white, light green, and sometimes blue. In most cases, the eggs will be white. However, they aren’t as large as a standard-sized duck egg. They more closely resemble a chicken egg.
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