 A small flock of Blekinge ducks | |
| Conservation status | Critical (FAO, 2007) [1] |
|---|---|
| Other names | Coast duck |
| Country of origin | Sweden |
| Distribution | Scania |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
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| Egg color | white [2] |
| Classification | |
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The Blekinge duck (Swedish : Blekingeanka), also known as the Coast Duck, [3] is a medium-sized Swedish breed of domestic duck prominent to the county of Blekinge. [4] [5]
The breed was first discovered in 1994 where a small flock of 2 drakes and 5 ducks lived with a fishing family in the Blekinge archipelago, hence it is speculated that it was not a duck purposely bred for use in agriculture. [6]
The Blekinge duck is often a lighter wild-colored duck similar to that of the Mallard, fully white individuals are rare but ever so often seen. The females weigh 2–2.5 kg (4.4–5.5 lb) and the males 2.5–3.5 kg (5.5–7.7 lb). [2]
Females can lay 70–100 white-colored eggs a year with an average weight for the eggs being 70–80 grams and the female can expect to lay on the eggs for 28 days before they hatch. [6] [7]
It is classified as an endangered breed due to its small population by organizations such as the FAO in 2007. [1] In 2012 the breed's population was at its largest with 208 breeding individuals, as of 2021 the breeding population had reduced to a total of 191 individuals but is increasing. [8]
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