Khaki Campbell Ducks

Dunk was travelling back from his parents in Scotland when he got a call from Suz.

“There are two ducks near Manchester that need a home!”

It was sort of on the way, so later that day we were the proud owners of two Khaki Campbells, which we knew nothing about.

It turned out that we had two of the best little egg laying birds you could possibly wish for! Mrs Adele Campbell, whom they take their name from, once owned an Indian Runner Duck which was laying almost an egg a day – very unusual. Deciding this was a good thing, she mixed some Rouen and Wild Duck to the gene pool and eleven years later, in 1898, announced the “Campbell” to the world.

The Khaki (they come in other flavours) Campbell name is alleged to have come from the fact that their colour reminded Mrs Campbell of the British army uniform at the time.

A year later we bought two more Khaki Campbells to keep them company, but alas we are back now to two (one of which is definitely not a KC).  This will no doubt change in the future as they are such a pleasant animal to share our space with, laying around 300 eggs a year (more than a pure breed hen) and their eggs make the absolute best sponge ever. Once you’ve tried them in baking you will find it hard to go back to hens’ eggs.