Swedish Yellow duck

Swedish Yellow duck

There have been domestic ducks in Sweden since the mid-16th century. The Swedish Yellow duck is a native breed with a yellowish-brown colour that can lay up to 200 eggs in a year. In the 1970s the breed was once thought to be extinct, but it turned out that a flock had survived.

In Sweden, domestic ducks have existed since the mid-16th century, descended from the mallard found throughout the northern hemisphere.

In the 1970s the breed was once thought to be extinct, but it turned out that a flock had survived. The flock was found on a farm in Billinge (also in Skåne), and thanks to this discovery the Swedish Yellow was saved from extinction.
About the Swedish yellow duck

Scientific name:
Anas platyrhynchos domesticus

Order:
Waterfowl

Family:
True waterfowl

Weight:
2.5–3.5 kg

Incubation:
21–28 days

Number of young:
4–18

Lifespan:
Up to 28 years

Eats:
Plants and small animals
Lays many eggs

Early humans used the mallard as a semi-domesticated provider of eggs and meat. The Swedish Yellow duck quickly became popular, thanks in part to the fact that it lays a lot of eggs. A single duck can lay 150 to 200 eggs a year!

Yellowish-brown to yellowish-white

The duck’s yellow colouring is constantly inherited, and can range from yellowish-brown to yellowish-white. It is the mid-yellow variant that is sought after. The male duck has a light pale brown colour on its head and throat, but is otherwise yellow. The female duck’s plumage is uniformly yellow, but may also have mixed shades.
Native breeds

Native breeds are populations of domesticated animals that have lived for so long in the same area that they have adapted to the local environment and its specific conditions. Swedish native breeds have declined in number, but there is a growing focus on efforts to preserve them as they are an important genetic resource and part of our cultural heritage.

Find out more about Swedish native breeds.

Find your way

Swedish Yellow duck

About the Swedish yellow duck

Lays many eggs

Yellowish-brown to yellowish-white

Native breeds

You can find the Swedish yellow duck here