![]() A caged Abacot Ranger | |
Conservation status | Critical (FAO, 2007) |
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Classification |
The Abacot Ranger is a breed of domestic duck, initially known as the Hooded Ranger and as Streicherente ('Ranger Duck', in Germany). A utility breed, originally developed for eggs and meat, it is popular for exhibition and egg production today.
The Abacot Ranger was developed between 1917 and 1922 by Mr. Oscar Gray of Abacot Duck Ranch, Friday Wood, Colchester in the United Kingdom, the name of the 'Ranch' being derived from Gray's home at Abbott's Cottages. Some white 'sports' occurred among his flock of Khaki Campbell's, and these Mr. Gray mated to white Indian Runner drakes and the progeny were named Hooded Rangers [1] and entered at the Wye College egg-laying trials 1922–23, where they gave a good account of themselves with the highest score in their section. [2] The name was changed to Abacot Ranger for the egg-laying trials at Bentley, and remained as such. It was initially a popular breed for egg and meat production, but soon became extinct in the United Kingdom. and the breed was then returned to the United Kingdom in the 1970s [3] from Germany. [4] The Abacot Ranger was accepted into the British Waterfowl Standard in 1983. [5]
The Abacot Ranger's standard weight is 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) for a drake (or male) and 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lb) for a duck (or female). [6]
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of harvesting useful animal products such as meat, eggs or feathers. The practice of raising poultry is known as poultry farming. These birds are most typically members of the superorder Galloanserae (fowl), especially the order Galliformes. The term also includes waterfowls of the family Anatidae and other flying birds that are kept and killed for their meat such as the young pigeons, but does not include wild birds hunted for food known as game or quarry.
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The Orpington or Buff Orpington Duck is a breed of domestic duck. It is a dual-purpose breed used for meat and egg production. It is capable of laying up to 220 eggs a year. Originally created by William Cook of Orpington, Kent, England, from the selection of mis-marked Blue Orpington Ducks; Cook was also the developer of the Orpington chicken. The breeds used in the development of the breed included Cayuga, Indian Runner, commercial Aylesbury and Rouen. It is proposed that Cook's intentions for the breed were to capitalize on the growing demand for the buff colour pattern. The Buff Orpington Duck was introduced to the public at the Dairy Show, the Agricultural Hall (q.v.), Islington, London in October 1897. It is considered a threatened breed by the ALBC. This breed was admitted to the British Poultry Standard in 1910 and the American Poultry Associations Standard of Perfection as the 'Buff Duck' in the Medium class in 1914. The Orpington duck is available in three colour varieties: Buff, Blond and Brown. The Buff Orpington is an unstable colour due to a blue dilution gene which means that from the offspring, all three colour variations will appear.
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