Ancona Duck Conservation
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Why is Breed Conservation Important?
Many of these breeds are now quite rare in the United States, and also worldwide. Yet they provide an invaluable amount of genetic information, represent an irreplaceable piece of earth’s biodiversity, and offer an incredible variety.
The Livestock Conservancy categorizes poultry breeds as Critical, Threatened, Watch, or Recovering:
Critical (C) Fewer than 500 breeding birds in the United States, with five or
fewer primary breeding flocks (50 birds or more), and an estimated global
population less than 1,000.
Threatened (T) Fewer than 1,000 breeding birds in the United States, with
seven or fewer primary breeding flocks, and an estimated global population
less than 5,000.
Watch (W) Fewer than 5,000 breeding birds in the United States, with ten or
fewer primary breeding flocks, and an estimated global population of less than
10,000. Also included are breeds that present genetic or numerical concerns or have limited geographic distribution.
Recovering (R) Breeds once listed in another category, but have exceeded Watch category numbers, and still need monitoring.
Ancona Duck Breed
The Ancona averages 6-6.5 pounds and is a bit stockier than its close relative, the Magpie duck. The broken, mottled plumage is unique among ducks for, like Holstein cattle, there is no set design. “Any combination of white and color is acceptable as long as there are obvious broken areas on the head, backs, sides, and underbody.” (Holderread) The neck is normally solid white, the bills are yellow with dark green or black spotting, and the legs and feet are orange with black or brown markings that increase with age.
Varieties include Black and White, Blue and White, Chocolate and White, Silver and White, Lavender and White, and Tricolored.
The Ancona is a hardy, adaptable, all-purpose duck. They are excellent layers, typically laying 210-280 white, cream, or blue eggs annually. Their eggs may be larger as they mature. They don’t tend to get broody, though if they do, they are acceptable mothers. However, the best way to grow a flock will be to use an incubator.-Livestock Conservatory
Anconas are well suited for situations where they can forage for some of their food. If they are handled as young birds, they are especially good pets, and they don’t like to roam too far. They are not fliers. -Livestock Conservatory
“They make excellent pond or yard ducks since they tend to stay close to home, do not fly under normal conditions, and are large enough so that they are less likely to be preyed upon by winged predators. Typically, they have moderately calm temperaments and make fine pets.” (Holderread)
Black and White
Blue and White
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Chocolate and White
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Silver and White
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Lavender and White
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Tricolored
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Building a Bridge Between Rescue and Breeder
Why Ancona Ducks?
When I discovered the Ancona breed two years ago, I was captivated by the unique colors and calm temperament of Ancona ducks. These ducks were once critically endangered, with only around 124 mature breeder ducks in America ten years ago. However, in recent years, their population has slightly increased, with about 1,500 breeding pairs noted. This has led to their status being changed from critically endangered to "watch" list status. Despite this, it saddens me to know that they remain on the watch list. These ducks are not only stunning but also diverse, and I was inspired to get involved in their conservation. Finding Ancona ducks and a breeder that shared our values proved challenging, and once we found one, we waited for six months for the little ones to be born and ready to come home with us. The breeder we has a small family farm that only breeds their ducks for a few months, allows them to roam freely, socializes them from birth, and feeds them a nutritious diet with Mazuri feed. It was evident how much care they put into their beautiful flock.
It is possible for rescues and breeders to collaborate effectively. Rescues strive to ensure that animals are well-cared for and remain in their homes. Similarly, some breeders invest a significant amount of time and effort into their ducks and want them to be placed in good homes. I believe in promoting breed diversity, we have 9 different breeds of ducks, each with their own unique personalities and beautiful colors. Unfortunately, 4 of our breeds are on the watch list, and 3 are threatened. It is heartbreaking to consider the possibility of losing these breeds, as they have the sweetest personalities in our flock. If they remain threatened, we may explore breeding options in the future.
Breed Conservation and The Rescue
Breed conservation is a cause close to my heart, and I pursue it personally. I want to clarify that my efforts are not associated with our non-profit organization. Therefore, any funds raised will not be directed towards breed conservation. Rather, they will solely be utilized for rescuing domestic ducks and providing them with medical attention, feed, and necessary supplies. I will however personally donate any proceeds from the sale of conversation ducklings/ducks to the rescue.
Although I prefer small farms or breeders, I do not pass judgment on the use of hatcheries. I understand the challenges of maintaining a healthy male-to-female ratio, especially when it comes to finding female ducks. Rather than abandoning male ducks, I do support finding female ducklings to add to the flock. However, I strongly advise conducting thorough research on any facility before obtaining ducks. It is crucial to know the living conditions and level of care provided to the ducks.
Although we do not have an application process for potential Ancona pet owners like we do for our rescues, rest assured that I will personally ensure that each duck finds a loving home. We prioritize the safety and comfort of our ducks above all else. I will also verify the shelter and overall living conditions of the ducks to ensure they are well taken care of.
Our Anconas
Ducklings
Arrived in June 2024
Freckles
Male Black and White Ancona, born in June 2023. Freckles is very energetic, we love his markings.
Dottie
Lavender Ancona female, born in June 2023. Dottie is a very sweet duck, she has a large lavender spot on her back.
Squirt
Lavender Ancona female, born in June 2023. Squirt was the liveliest duckling, she has sporadic colorings of lavender.
Nellie
Chocolate Ancona female, born in June 2023. Nellie was calm as a duckling and is still very social today.
Dixie
Chocolate Ancona female, born in June 2023. Dixie had angel wing as a young duckling, we tried multiple times to correct it but her stubbornness won. Her colors are stunning and we love her sassyness.
Ancona's 2023-2024
Some of Our Ancona's Who Found Their Forever Homes
Domino
Smudge
Peanut
Our flock is still growing, hoping to start raising ducklings in spring of 2025.
Our ducks will remain free range and ducklings will only be available for several months to allow our Anconas to enjoy most of the year with their mixed flock.