INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS - PURE BREED APRICOT HAND REARED DUCKS AND DUCKLINGS

These are our Apricot and fawn Indian Runner Ducks - always hand reared here on the farm from our unrelated exhibition quality parents!

We carefully rear all of our birds in very small numbers, so they all have such great characters due to the regular handling and attention - they have made great pets for us, as they will for anyone.

Indian Runners are fairly unique, as unlike other ducks, they cannot fly, and are much quieter and cleaner than other breeds, and produce daily nice large eggs that taste exactly the same as chickens.

Originally bred to run as a family flocks for clearing through rice fields and plantations of insects and bugs, they continue to do this in a domestic environment, so are great for keeping all of those garden pests at bay, without the digging associated with chickens!

They are generally happiest with a drake in each group, as his presence will not only provide security for the ducks, but also help to promote continuous egg laying in the colder months, typically with around 300 eggs per year from each duck.

The parent stock are pure bred from Apricot, so all colourings from that gene group, rather than mixed parentage as you will sometimes find with people that keep mixed flocks, or worse still some that may not even be pure runners as you quite often see!

The Parents are available here to view in their family group, and are kept in a natural environment, and completely free range over our 9 acres of fields and meadow.

For the welfare and health of the ducklings, unlike some "factory farms" we choose not to hatch during the colder winter months, starting to hatch in April.

None of our young or juvenile ducklings require additional heat, or to be fed on specialist duckling food - they are suitable to be housed outdoors, and fed on normal DUCK & GOOSE Grower feed.

As we are one of the very few breeders of Apricot runners in the UK, our ducklings are in very high demand, we may not have sexed juvenile birds available all through the season, but as all of our youngsters have been hand reared together they are great in their small groups.

For collection, please bring some suitably sized boxes or carriers to transport the birds - Dark boxes are best, allowing the ducks to settle and relax during the journey.

2024 DUCKLINGS HAVE NOW HATCHED, GROWING UP FAST AND READY

YOUNG DUCKLINGS PRICES: (all ready to go, off heat and on adult food)

DUCKLINGS - £30 each

FOUR DUCKLINGS - £110

SEXED JUVENILES PRICES: (if available and from 12 weeks old)

GIRLS - £45 ea GUYS - £20

TRIO -(2 ducks, 1 drake) - £100

We are located just off the main A48 between Chepstow and Lydney, approximately 15 minutes from the M4/M5/M48, and are available for pre-booked collections or visits to the farm either at weekends or evenings to suit.

Please note: Email is generally the best way to contact us, as we do not have good mobile signal, or alternatively drop us a message on our Dovecote Farm website