Indian Runner Duck

ANIMAL:
Indian Runner Duck     Anas domesticus

Type of Animal:
Duck

Habitat:
Farms, ponds

Location(s):
Originally from East Indies. Now found worldwide.

Appearance:
Looks like bowling pin/wine bottle w/ webbed feet & very long necks. Come in many colors, such as white, black, gray, chocolate, fawn, tan, blue & pencil (fawn/white). Male more colorful than female. They walk upright instead of waddling. Very small wings rendering them flightless.

Food/Diet:
Grains, grasses, duckweed, insects, worms, slugs, duck pellets, leaves, greens

Status in Wild:
Domesticated

Conservation:
Breeding in farms & aviculture. Bred for meat, eggs, & as pets.

Lifestyle:
Flocks of up to 100 birds. Females w/ ducklings will separate from main flock.

Additional Info:

Called:
Male-Drake
Female-Hen
Young-Duckling
Group-Flock

Weight:
Male-3.5-5 lbs
Female-3-4.4 lbs
Young-0.5 lb

Gestation: 
28 days

Height:
Male-2.16 ft
Female-1.83 ft

Body Length:
Male-2.16-2.6 ft
Female-2-2.3 ft

Life Span: 
8-12 years

Tail Length:
Male-8.64-10.32 in
Female-8.04–9.12 in

Main predators are monitor lizards, felids, bears, canids, snakes, raptors, pandas, civets, raccoons, coatis, crocodilians, chimps, monkeys, skunks, opossums, snapping turtles, otters, large carnivorous fish, & mongooses. Pigs, rats, herons, & hornbills prey on ducklings.

Imported to Europe in 16th century.

Well-known for egg-laying ability. In fact, hens can lay up to 200-300 eggs a year.

Like other ducks, they’re less disease-prone than chickens.

Like other ducks, only females quack. Drakes have hoarse whisper.

During breeding season, drakes will gang rape hens, sometimes drowning/pecking them to death.

Fun Fact(s):
This breed may be more than 2,000 years old.
 
Due to unusual posture, sometimes called “Bowling Pin Duck.”
 
They get their name due to habit of running away from predators.

They’re very excitable & nervous ducks. Can also be quite friendly.

Despite name, they’re not originally from India, though now they’re domesticated in India.