Khaki Campbell
The Khaki Campbell was developed in England during the early
1900's by Adele Campbell. It was admitted to the American Standard in
1941. Though originally a cross of Indian
Runner, Mallard, and Rouen,
Campbells exceed all of these and most chicken breeds in egg production, with
some strains averaging 300 eggs per year. They do not require special care or
artificial lighting to produce a large number of eggs, which are white and
weight about 2.5 ounces (not much larger than a Leghorn egg). Thought not
usually raised for meat, Khakis make high quality, lean roasters of 3-4 pounds;
they average 4-5 pounds as adults. Campbells are extremely hardy, are excellent
foragers, and are at home on land as well as in water. They eat large
quantities of slugs, snails, insects, algae, and mosquitos from ponds, but do
not require swimming water to stay healthy. The ducks are mainly khaki colored
and the drakes have greenish-bronze heads with brown-bronze tails, backs, and
necks. They have green bills.
Status: Minor. Though still not common, the
Khaki Campbell is thought to be growing in popularity as an egg-layer and
backyard duck. Exhibition Khakis do not have the same characteristics as
production types.
Reference:
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Box 477,
Pittsboro, N.C. 27312
