Buff

The Buff duck, often called the Buff Orpington duck in Britain and some older sources, is a medium-sized English domestic duck developed around the turn of the twentieth century. It was bred as a dual-purpose bird for eggs and meat, with a warm buff or fawn plumage that sets it apart from darker farm ducks. The drake may show a slightly darker head and neck during breeding plumage, while good lines keep a soft, even body color without heavy smutting or washed-out patches.

Buff ducks suit small farms and backyard flocks that want a calm, useful duck without the size of the heaviest meat breeds. They forage well when given space, but steady laying and good body condition still depend on a proper ration, oyster shell for layers, and clean water for bathing and bill care. Breeders working with exhibition or preservation stock watch color closely because buff is easy to lose through poor selection or crossing. When buying birds, it helps to ask whether the line is selected for production, show type, or general utility, since those goals can produce noticeably different ducks.

Colors: Apricot, Bibbed, Black, Blue, Buff, Chocolate, Fawn, Golden Buff, Gray, Magpie, Mallard, Penciled, Pied, Runner Pattern, Silver, White