Rouen Duck

Description

The Rouen duck breed is a domesticated duck. They are typically raised for meat, for exhibition, and as a pet. They are considered a heavyweight breed of duck.

These ducks aren’t the best layers around. But they do offer a charismatic appeal to any backyard flock.
If you’re new to raising ducks – or perhaps want to add on to your existing flock with a new, fun-loving breed – you may want to consider the Rouen duck breed.
History of the Rouen Duck Breed

Though this breed originated in France, the Rouen duck breed didn’t really start to gain traction until it was introduced to England in the 1800s.

Here, it was further refined from its early, rudimentary version into the breed that we recognize as the modern Rouen.
Originally, the first Rouens looked much like Mallards, both in size and in coloring.

It was only through selective breeding in England that breeders bred the ducks into a larger individual with more refined markings and a deeper, longer keel.

Originally raised as a roasting bird for meat, it was occasionally raised as a dual-purpose duck since it produced up to 125 eggs each year.

It’s unknown how and where the Rouen name came about. Likely, it is an evolution of the name that occurred gradually over time.
Original Name: Rhone Duck

When the ducks first came to Britain, they were called Rhone, after a region in southwest France, Rohan (a call out to the cardinal of the same name) Roan, after the diverse blend of colors represented in the breed’s plague, and Rouen, after a town in northern France.
Rouens tend to be quiet, not making much of a fuss about anything. They are slow growers that take their time in everything they do.

Occasionally, male Rouen duck can be a bit aggressive. When they guard a nest – they will chase down anyone near the hen and her territory.
They are not good fliers since they are so large. Therefore, you likely won’t need to worry about super-tall fences to contain them and prevent them from flying away.

Of course, make sure your duck housing and run are both secure against predators. Since these ducks aren’t particularly quick-moving, you need to make sure there are systems in place to keep them safe from harm.
Rouens tend to be quiet, not making much of a fuss about anything. They are slow growers that take their time in everything they do.

Occasionally, male Rouen duck can be a bit aggressive. When they guard a nest – they will chase down anyone near the hen and her territory.
Rouen ducklings are easy to tell apart from Mallards, too, since they have a second stripe that runs across the face, just beneath the eye.

Otherwise, the plumage coloring is similar. Adult Rouens are much larger than Mallards as well.

There are several other color variations of this breed that you may see from time to time, too. Breeders have exhibited various options like Pastel, Fawn, Blue, and Black, but these are not yet accepted or recognized by the American Poultry Association.

Rouens are unique in that they can see color and can see extremely well underwater.
Rouen ducks can live up to eight to twelve years.

Rouen Duck Eggs
Rouen Duck Eggs

Unfortunately, Rouen ducks are not the best breed to raise if you hope to raise ducks for eggs. That’s because it is somewhat unreliable when it comes to its laying habits.

Although some females can lay up to 125 eggs each year, many lay just 35 to 50. These eggs tend to be white but occasionally have green and blue tinting, so they are not plentiful in number while they are attractive.

Another disadvantage of raising Rouen ducks for eggs is that the females tend to crush the eggs when they set on them since their frames are so massive.

It takes quite a while for Rouen ducks to reach maturity for egg-laying purposes, too. It might take seven to ten months before you see a single egg.

The average clutch size is around five to ten white eggs, which hatch in around four weeks (if the hen does not accidentally crush them first).