Pekin Ducks

Pekins, bred from the mallard in China, are used primarily for meat production as well as eggs. Their ancestors lived in the canals linking waterways in Nanjing and had small black bodies. When the Chinese capital became Beijing, the supply of barge traffic increased. These barges would spill grain from which the ducks would feed. They began to increase in size and grew white feathers. By the time of the Five Dynasties, Chinese farmers had domesticated this new breed of duck. Mature Pekins will weigh 8-11 pounds.