Pekin

Duck

The Pekin is the white duck of American farmyards and of nearly every duck dinner served in the United States — the whole population descends from a small shipment brought to Long Island from China in 1873. It grows fast enough to reach market weight in seven weeks, which is exactly why it kept its commercial crown and why it makes a placid, undemanding backyard bird. Its bulk is the trade-off: Pekins cannot fly, tire in heat, and have had broodiness bred out of them almost entirely, so hatching eggs means an incubator or a borrowed Muscovy. Expect a loud duck — the females are among the most vocal of any breed, which is worth weighing before putting them close to a property line.

Beginner friendly

Good with kids

Cold hardy

Egg colorWhite

Egg production140–175 / year

TemperamentDocile

BroodinessRare

ClimateCold hardy

PurposeMeat, Eggs

FlightFlightless

Weight

Duck8–9 lb

Drake9–10 lb

How to spot it

Bill: Bright orange-yellow, medium length and slightly concave along the top
Carriage: Held about 20–40° above horizontal, with a stout body and a well-rounded chest
Plumage: Creamy white throughout, never pure chalk-white; a yellow cast is normal in young birds
Legs & feet: Orange, set well back — the source of the upright, waddling gait
Look for: A heavy white duck that stands with its tail cocked upward and cannot lift off the ground