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The Indian runner duck, also known colloquially as bottle duck, comes from Southeast Asia and was also kept here in Western Europe from about 1850. Although it hardly provides any meat, it is an excellent egg producer. Their way of life is based on living in small groups with a drake and several female ducks.
In a nutshell
- very limited ability to fly and usually actually move by walking
- very freedom-loving and extraordinarily active
- Waterfowl closely related to the mallard
- mostly bred for their eggs
- because of their love for slugs but also great garden pest controllers
Characteristics
- Name: Indian runner duck or bottle duck
- Size or weight: 2.3 kilograms (drake), 2.0 kilograms (female duck)
- Plumage: brown to colorful, drakes often very colorful
- Region of origin: Southeast Asia
- Type of use: layers, snail eaters in the garden
- Number of eggs: about 200 in the first year, about 150 in the second year
- Egg weight: 50 to 75 grams
- Egg shell color: brown
- Breeding instinct: very pronounced
- Straightforward and beginner-friendly
way of life
Runner ducks are easy to keep in your own garden. In their way of life they are extremely modest and uncomplicated. Even beginners should therefore get along well with the animals. In the garden, however, there should be a small pond for the waterfowl. They also need a lockable stable at night to protect them from their predators, foxes and martens. Runner ducks should never be kept alone, but preferably in small groups consisting of a drake and three to four ducks. In some cases, however, it is also possible to keep them in pairs.
Great urge to move
Ducks are lively animals that have a great urge to move and usually run around all day long. The garden should therefore be of a certain size so that the ducks can let off steam. Around the garden there should be a fence with a height of 80 cm to one meter to prevent waterfowl from escaping. Ornamental plants and the vegetable garden should also be protected with a fence. In summer you can largely leave the animals to themselves. They look for their food in the garden and primarily fall back on grass, worms, slugs, beetles and seeds. In autumn and winter, however, additional feeding is required. We recommend a special mix of grains for ducks from specialist retailers.
Source: Fiver the Psychic Indian Runner Ducks (2) edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Very important: water
Runner ducks are known to be waterfowl. That is why they absolutely need a pond in which they can bathe and clean their feathers in order to keep them as species-appropriate as possible. A large bowl of water should always be available to drink.
frequently asked Questions
Can running ducks stay outside in winter?Yes, the animals have an enzyme in their blood that ensures that their circulation remains fluid up to a temperature of at least minus 15 degrees Celsius.
Is the Indian runner duck edible?Yes, some even claim their meat is a delicacy. However, the animals should be slaughtered as young as possible so that their meat contains as few sinews as possible. Besides, there isn't much to such a duck. In particular, the chest and thighs are hardly pronounced.
Do runner ducks become tame?Runner ducks are basically wild animals that don't really become tame even when kept in the garden. However, you can get them to eat out of your hand and, under certain circumstances, allow yourself to be touched. The right treats, especially slugs, make it possible. However, they will retain a certain basic skepticism about people throughout their lives.