The Pekin duck is the most commercially important duck breed in the world. It dominates commercial meat production across North America, Europe, and increasingly in Asia and Australia. It is also one of the most popular backyard ducks in Australia — calm, productive, fast-growing, and unmistakable in its bright white plumage and cheerful, upright carriage.

If you're considering Pekins for your backyard or small farm, this complete breed guide covers everything: their history and origin, physical characteristics, temperament, egg and meat production, housing requirements, feeding, health management, and how they compare to other popular breeds in Australian conditions.

History and Origin

The Pekin duck's story is one of the great agricultural migrations of the 19th century. The breed originated in China, where white ducks were kept for both meat and eggs for centuries. The specific lineage of the modern Pekin traces to the Chinese city of Nanjing (not Beijing/Peking, despite the name), where a particular strain of large, white-feathered ducks was developed.

In 1873, an American clipper ship transported a small number of these white Chinese ducks to the United States. The impact was immediate and transformative. American breeders found the birds grew faster and larger than any domestic duck they had previously encountered, and within decades, the Pekin had completely displaced other meat duck breeds in American commercial production. Long Island, New York, became the centre of American Pekin production — giving rise to the alternate name "Long Island Duck" still used in some American restaurants.

Around the same time, Pekins were brought to England (via Germany, where they were also bred), and from there they spread throughout the British Empire — including Australia. In Australia, the Pekin has been present since the late 19th century and is now by far the most widespread domestic duck breed in the country.

Modern commercial Pekin production uses highly selected strains (Cherry Valley, Grimaud, and others) developed specifically for maximum feed efficiency and growth rate. These commercial strains can reach 3.5 kg in just 7 weeks under intensive management. Backyard Pekin strains are somewhat less extreme in their selection but still represent the fastest-growing duck widely available to Australian producers.

Physical Characteristics

Size: The Pekin is a large breed. Standard weights: - Drake (male): 4–5 kg - Duck (female): 3.5–4.5 kg

Plumage: Pure white throughout, with no colour variation. Newly hatched ducklings are bright yellow — the iconic "Easter duckling" image. Adult feathers are crisp white.

Bill: Yellow-orange, broad and flat.

Legs and feet: Orange.

Body shape: Deep, broad, and blocky. The Pekin carries its body at an upward angle of approximately 30–40 degrees from horizontal — a characteristic stance that distinguishes it from most other breeds. Commercial strains have been selected for an even more horizontal, broad-breasted body conformation.

Eyes: Blue-grey.

Carriage: Upright, active, and alert. Pekins walk with a characteristic waddling gait due to their wide body and short legs.

Feathering: Full and dense, providing excellent insulation in cold conditions.

Temperament and Behaviour

The Pekin's temperament is one of its greatest assets for backyard keeping. Compared to many duck breeds, Pekins are:

Calm and approachable: Pekins typically adjust well to human presence and regular handling. While they may be wary of strangers initially, they settle quickly with a keeper who interacts with them daily. Many backyard Pekins become genuinely friendly and will follow their owner around the yard.

Social: Pekins are highly gregarious and do poorly in isolation. They should always be kept in groups of at least two, and preferably three or more. A lone Pekin will be visibly distressed, vocalising frequently and showing anxious behaviour.

Active foragers: Given access to a yard or pasture, Pekins will spend a significant portion of their day foraging — probing soil, turning over leaf litter, hunting insects, slugs, and snails. Their foraging activity is an asset in a garden context.

Moderate noise: Pekin hens produce the classic duck quack — louder than a chicken but generally within manageable limits for suburban settings if kept in reasonable numbers. Drakes produce a raspy, quieter call. Hens become most vocal when startled, separated from the group, or anticipating feeding time.

Not flighty: Unlike some lighter breeds (Indian Runners, Khaki Campbells), Pekins are heavy-bodied and not inclined to fly. Standard 60–90cm fencing is sufficient to contain them in most situations. They are an excellent choice for properties without high perimeter fencing.

Egg Production

While the Pekin is primarily known as a meat breed, duck hens produce a respectable number of eggs:

Annual eggs: 150–200 per year (standard backyard strains); some productive lines reach 200–240. Egg size: Large to extra-large, 75–90g Egg colour: White Laying pattern: Seasonal layers — peak production in spring and summer, declining in autumn and winter as day length shortens. Artificial lighting can extend the season. Broodiness: Moderate. Pekin hens do go broody periodically but are not as persistently broody as Muscovies or Calls.

Duck eggs are laid very early in the morning — typically before 9am. Pekin ducks don't use nesting boxes as reliably as chickens; expect eggs scattered across the floor of the duck house. Collecting eggs shortly after the flock is let out in the morning keeps them clean.

The thick-shelled Pekin egg has excellent keeping quality and is prized by bakers for its rich yolk and high albumin content. If you're keeping Pekins primarily for meat but also want eggs, the females will provide a useful supplementary egg supply while raising ducklings or between meat batches.

Meat Production

The Pekin's meat production credentials are exceptional:

Growth rate: The fastest-growing duck breed available in Australia. Standard backyard Pekin ducklings reach 3.5–4 kg liveweight by 7–9 weeks of age. Commercial strains can hit 3.5 kg in 7 weeks.

Dressing percentage: 72–75% of liveweight as usable carcass. Meat character: Mild, classic duck flavour. More flavoursome than chicken but milder and less gamey than Muscovy. Broad appeal. Fat content: Well-developed fat layer beneath the skin — ideal for roasting, as this self-bastes the bird. Duck fat renders beautifully and is highly valued in cooking. Breast development: Wide, well-muscled breast from commercial-influenced strains. Feather advantage: White feathering means no dark pinfeathers in the dressed carcass — a significant advantage for presentation quality.

For backyard meat production, the Pekin is the default recommendation for good reason. The combination of fast growth, white feathering, clean flavour, and calm management makes it the most practical choice for home duck production in Australia.

Housing Requirements

Space

Pekins are large, active birds that need adequate space to move comfortably:

Minimum indoor space: 0.5–1 m² per duck in the duck house Recommended outdoor run: 2–4 m² per duck; more if they cannot free-range Free-range: Ideal if the yard is secure. Pekins will actively use their space, foraging and waddling considerable distances in a day.

Duck House Design

A Pekin duck house must provide:

Security: Foxes are a serious threat in Australian backyards. The duck house must have no gaps wider than 5cm, hardware cloth on any ventilation openings, and fox-resistant latching. Unlike chickens, ducks don't roost — they sleep on the floor of the housing — so the entire floor perimeter is vulnerable to predators digging under walls.

Ventilation: Ducks produce significant moisture from breathing and wet droppings. Poor ventilation causes ammonia buildup and respiratory disease. Ventilation openings should be high on the walls, covered with fine mesh.

Low entry threshold: Pekins are heavy and low-slung. Unlike chickens, they cannot fly up into a raised house. Entry ramps must be low-gradient (no more than 1:3 slope) and non-slip.

Drainage: Duck housing gets wet. A concrete floor with a central drain, or a well-drained compacted earthen floor, prevents the buildup of wet, stinking litter that causes foot problems and disease.

Bedding: Straw or wood shavings, replaced frequently. Ducks turn bedding into wet mulch quickly. Plan for more frequent bedding changes than you would for a chicken coop.

No perches required: Ducks sleep on the floor. Don't bother with perches.

Nest boxes optional: Pekin ducks often ignore purpose-built nest boxes. Many keepers provide a quiet corner with extra straw and accept that eggs will be laid wherever the duck chooses.

Water

Access to water is fundamental to duck welfare and management:

For drinking: Water deep enough to submerge the bill and nostrils. Ducks need to be able to clear their nasal passages in water — without it, respiratory issues develop quickly.

For bathing: While ducks don't strictly need a pond or large water body for health, the ability to swim or at least splash in deeper water significantly improves their welfare, cleanliness (they self-preen using water), and fertility in breeding pairs.

Practical water management: A raised nipple drinker on a timer is hygienic but doesn't meet Pekin welfare needs. A heavy-duty plastic tub, livestock trough, or small pond with regular water changes is better. The trade-off is that any open water source becomes fouled quickly and requires regular cleaning.

In hot Australian summers: Shade over water sources is essential. Pekins are susceptible to heat stress at temperatures above 30–32°C. Ensure shade is available throughout the hottest part of the day and that cool, clean water is always accessible.

Feeding Pekin Ducks

Ducklings (0–3 weeks): Starter

Feed waterfowl starter or chick starter crumble at 20–22% crude protein. Do not use feeds medicated with amprolium — the dosage in chicken-formulated medicated starters can be harmful to ducklings at the quantities they consume.

Ducklings eat significantly more than chicks of the same age — their growth rate demands it. Ensure feed and water are always available together.

Growers (3–7 weeks): Grower Pellets

Transition to grower pellets or waterfowl grower at 17–20% protein. This phase covers the bulk of growth to slaughter weight for meat ducks.

Breeding/Laying Adults: Layer or Maintenance

Adult Pekin ducks used for egg production or breeding should receive waterfowl layer pellets or a quality poultry layer pellet at 15–17% protein with calcium supplementation for egg-laying females.

Breeding drakes and non-laying ducks can be maintained on a maintenance ration at 14–16% protein.

Key Feeding Rules

  • Always provide water with feed — ducks cannot swallow dry pellets safely
  • Don't feed layer pellets to growing ducklings — excess calcium damages developing kidneys
  • Supplement with fresh greens, weeds, and garden produce freely
  • Limit corn and scratch grains — excessive carbohydrates cause excessive fat deposition and "angel wing" (a wing deformity associated with rapid growth on high-carbohydrate diets in ducklings)
  • Provide shell grit free-choice for laying females

Health Management

Pekins are generally hardy and disease-resistant, but several health issues are worth knowing:

Angel Wing: A developmental deformity causing the last joint of the wing to twist outward. Associated with excessive protein or carbohydrate intake in fast-growing ducklings. Prevention: feed a balanced diet; avoid overfeeding. Treatment: taping the wing in early stage (under 10 days) can correct it; established deformity is permanent.

Bumblefoot: A bacterial infection of the foot pad causing hard, painful swelling. Common in heavy birds on hard surfaces. Prevention: soft bedding, clean dry floors, no sharp objects. Treatment: debridement, antibiotic treatment by a vet.

Duck Virus Hepatitis: A highly contagious viral disease of young ducklings (under 6 weeks) causing sudden death. No treatment; prevention through biosecurity, sourcing clean stock, and in severe cases, vaccination of breeding flocks.

Aspergillosis: Fungal respiratory infection from mouldy bedding or feed. Prevention: never use mouldy straw or feed; ensure proper ventilation. Treatment is difficult; prevention is essential.

Duck Plague (Duck Virus Enteritis): A highly contagious herpesvirus causing high mortality. Spread by contact with wild waterfowl. Prevention: limit contact with wild birds; biosecurity.

Internal Parasites: Roundworms and other internal parasites can affect ducks. Treat with an appropriate wormer (levamisole or fenbendazole — check label for waterfowl approval). Monitor for signs: weight loss, pale mucous membranes, loose droppings.

External Parasites: Lice and mites occur in ducks but are less common than in chickens, partly because regular bathing disrupts parasite lifecycles. Access to clean bathing water is one of the best preventative measures.

Breeding Pekin Ducks

Sexual maturity: Pekin hens begin laying at 20–24 weeks. Drakes are sexually mature from 16–18 weeks.

Mating ratio: 1 drake to 4–6 hens for breeding purposes.

Natural mating: Pekins mate on water (or in water-adjacent areas) more reliably than on land. Good fertility rates depend on adequate water access.

Egg fertility: 85–95% fertility in well-managed breeding flocks.

Incubation: 28 days. Duck eggs require slightly higher humidity than chicken eggs during incubation (55–65% during incubation, raised to 75–80% in the last 3 days). Rotate eggs 3–5 times per day if using a forced-air incubator.

Broodiness: Pekin hens go broody occasionally but are not reliable natural mothers compared to breeds like Muscovy or Call ducks. Many backyard producers use a broody chicken (Silkie or Plymouth Rock) or an incubator to hatch Pekin eggs.

Pekin Ducks in Australian Conditions

Hot climates (Queensland, NT, inland WA): Pekins handle moderate heat reasonably well but require shade, cool water, and good ventilation above 30°C. In extreme heat waves (38°C+), they should have access to a shallow pool or misting system. Their white plumage is an advantage — it reflects heat rather than absorbing it.

Cold climates (Tasmania, alpine Victoria, ACT): Pekins are very cold-hardy. Their dense feathering and body fat insulate them well. They can handle frost and light snow without difficulty; the main requirement in cold conditions is dry housing free of drafts.

High humidity (coastal QLD, northern NSW): Ensure adequate ventilation in the duck house to prevent respiratory issues and fungal growth in bedding. Manage water areas carefully to prevent breeding conditions for mosquitoes and bacterial growth.

Summary

The Pekin duck is the most practical, versatile, and widely available duck for Australian backyard and small-farm production. Its exceptional growth rate, calm temperament, attractive white plumage, decent egg production, and wide availability make it the default recommendation for anyone new to duck keeping or focused on meat production.

If you want the simplest path to quality duck meat, reliable eggs, and a characterful flock that requires minimal special management, the Pekin duck is almost certainly the right choice for your Australian backyard.