Ducks are beautiful creatures that are popular among bird lovers and domestic keepers. They are bred for egg and meat production, as well as for show purposes.
With the various interbreeding practices that happen within birds from different continents, what we get as a result is a stunning array of beautiful birds from deep blacks to iridescent shades.
One such color, that is particularly striking, is a beautiful and subtle grey color.
Today we will be looking at 5 grey duck breeds – each spectacular in their combination of grey with other delightful shades. Let’s dive in!
5 Grey Duck Breeds
| Gray Duck Breeds | Lifespan | Favorite Food | Weight (Male/Female) |
| Mallard | 5 – 10 years | Mainly plant food materials like seeds, weeds, roots, stems, etc | 1.5 to 3.5 pounds |
| Rouen Duck | 8 – 12 years | Aquatic animals, larvae, small fish, and plant materials. | 5.9 – 7.9 pounds |
| Swedish Duck | 8 – 12 years | Mainly plant materials. Forage for bugs and insects. | 6.5 – 8 pounds |
| Indian Runner Duck | 8 – 12 years | Slugs, worms, snails, insects, grass, and duckweed. | 3.5 – 5 pounds |
| Saxony Duck | 9 – 12 years | Leafy greens like cabbage and lettuce, grass, weed, etc. | About 7.7 pounds |
Mallard Duck
Mallards are one of the most eye-catching breeds of birds, with the males sporting one of the gorgeous shades of green on their heads and necks.
The iridescent green in males contrasts perfectly with the neutral colors of their bodies. Their gray body is sandwiched between a brown-plumaged breast and a darker, almost, black rear.
They mainly inhabit wetlands and are omnivorous, consuming water plants, plant materials, and small animals.
They are very social beings who are highly talkative and love congregating in groups. The females lay about 8 to 13 creamy white to blueish eggs on alternative days.
They are one of the most abundant duck breeds in the world, inhabiting marshy swamps, woodlands, lakes, and bays in temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and so on.
Rouen Duck
Nearly identical to our first contender, the Mallard, Rouen ducks are a much more heavyweight duck that is bred primarily for decoration and show purposes.
They are very similar to Mallards in appearance, especially with males and their iridescent heads and white-ringed collar region.
Males have black tail coverts with ash-colored tail feathers, while the females sport a more consistent brown plumage all over with beautiful tan stripes all over.
While captive birds are often fed pellets, they naturally feed on an assortment of food from larvae to small fish to aquatic plants.
Rouen ducks are beloved for their calm and docile disposition. They have a very easygoing air about them, often described as majestic by many hatcheries.
They generally don’t make a big fuss about anything. They are also great performers and will certainly bring home many awards, once properly trained.
Swedish Duck/ Swedish Blue
As the name suggests, Swedish Blue is a Swedish breed of domesticated ducks and a very popular breed in Europe.
It originated in the 19th century in what was then Swedish Pomerania, though now they are more common all over Europe and in some parts of North America.
They are medium-sized birds adorned by a beautiful blue-gray plumage with a white bib around their necks.
One of the most stunning aspects of their appearance is the contrast created by their outer wing flight feathers and their primary gray plumage – it is truly a spectacular sight.
Most commonly bred as pets or for ornamental or exhibition purposes, they are generally known to have a very calm temperament if a bit shy.
They are also very hardy birds, and incredibly good foragers hunting for a variety of bugs and insects, as well as grass and duckweed.
Indian Runner Duck
Another breed in the domestic duck category, the Indian Runner Duck is now found all over the world, though they are native to Southeast Asia.
They are known for their peculiar stance – standing up erect like penguins and running instead of the typical duck waddling.
They are mainly kept for their egg production, laying about 180 eggs a year!
They have a slender and sleek appearance, with a long neck that transitions beautifully into their brown-gray plumaged body.
Inhabiting mainly ponds and streams, they are good foragers searching for slugs, worms, snails, insects, and so on.
As for their temperament, they are generally considered to be quite nervous and excitable but can become very calm with proper gentle taming.
Since they love foraging, they enjoy large open spaces and are most content foraging for their favorite food in meadows.
Saxony Duck
Saxony is also a popular domestic breed and is of German origin. They are general or multi-purpose ducks that came with a combination of three common breeds which is what gives them their striking appearance and compact form.
They are pretty heavyweight and very muscular with closed feathers. The duck has a bluish-gray head and a white neck ring with a beautiful brownish gray plumage covering the majority of its body.
They are great foragers as well and have a special liking for leafy greens, their favorite.
Looking at their disposition, they are well-loved in hatcheries for their lively and active temperament, even if they wreak some mischief.
All around though, they are a pretty straightforward prey to breed and have a generally calm and gentle demeanor.
Conclusion
Just like their cousins who live in the wild, domestic ducks also boast a variety of wonderful shades, and we hope you learned something new about all the gorgeous gray ones today!
Thank you for reading!
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