7 Small Duck Breeds

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Ducks come in various sizes and weights that vary by breed. Each breed serves different purposes and have many features that distinguish them from each other.

Based on their weights, ducks can be grouped into 4 classes: heavy, medium, lightweight, and bantam.

Of these 4 classes of duck weights, those belonging to bantam classes usually stay small. The bantam variety of duck breeds are much smaller than those of standard size. Their miniature nature makes them great for exhibitions and as pets.

In this article, we will take a closer look at 7 small duck breeds. We will review their unique features, sizes, and interesting facts about each one.

Table of Contents

1. Call Duck

Cute white call duck standing on dirt ground near pond

Call ducks are perhaps the smallest domestic ducks and one of the noisiest, too. They are a bantam breed typically kept as pets or used for ornamental purposes. But if you cannot tolerate noise, you may want to avoid getting one as a pet.

Call ducks originated in the Netherlands, and they were bred from Mallards. Generally, ducks of this breed weigh less than 2.2 pounds.

By the American Bantam Association (ABA) standards, drakes of this breed weigh 1.4-1.6 pounds while the ducks weigh 1.1-1.25 pounds. Adult call ducks grow to be about 14 inches tall.

Call ducks are not the best egg layers. For each clutch, they lay 8-12 eggs with an incubation period of 26-28 days.

2. Black East Indian Duck

two black east indian ducks and other different breed of duck on lake

The Black East Indian, also known as the East Indie, is the oldest bantam duck breed.

This breed is thought to have its origins in the United States, but the specific location is not known.

Ducks of the East Indie breed usually weigh less than 2.2 pounds. The drakes have an average weight of 1.9 pounds while the ducks have an average weight of 1.6-1.75 pounds.

Black East Indian ducks are not great layers. But you may keep them as pets or for other ornamental purposes.

East Indie ducks have iridescent dark-green plumage, dark eyes, and dark feet. They share the epistatic gene that codes for their color with Cayuga ducks, and they also have similar plumage color to that of the Cayuga.

3. Silver Bantam Duck

Not as popular as it used to be, the Silver Bantam is a domestic duck breed that was created by Reginald Appleyard after the Second World War.

Some people assumed that the Silver Bantam was the bantam variety of the Silver Appleyard. But this is inaccurate; the Silver Bantam is a separate breed.

Silver Bantams look more like Abacot Rangers than the Silver Appleyard.

While the Silver Bantam was initially known as Silver Appleyard Bantam, the name was modified when Tom Bartlett created the actual miniature Silver Appleyard.

On average, adults of this breed weigh less than 2.2 pounds. The drakes weigh around 1.9 pounds while the ducks weigh around 1.75 pounds.

Silver Bantams are good flyers and layers. They lay around 60-160 eggs per year.

Although they lay a considerable number of eggs, they are commonly kept as pets or for ornamental and exhibition purposes.

4. Miniature Crested Duck

Male and Female Crested Duck, 3 years old, standing in front of white background

Miniature Crested ducks are the small variety of Crested ducks. They were created by Roy Sutcliffe in Yorkshire in the late 1980s by crossbreeding Crested ducks with Calls and Miniature Appleyards.

The males of this breed weigh around 2.4 pounds while the ducks weigh around 1.9 pounds. Like the large variety, they come crested, and you may have to trim the crest if it becomes too large.

Miniature Crested ducks are very beautiful. They can be used as pets, for exhibitions, and for ornamental purposes. They can lay as many as 100 eggs per year, so you may also get some eggs from them.

If you intend to keep Miniature Crested ducks, keep them in a clean, tidy area. This helps ensure their plumage and crest stay beautiful.

Also, keep a very low ratio of drakes to ducks in each pen. Drakes can damage the ducks’ crest, so keeping one drake for every 2-3 ducks will suffice.

5. Miniature Silver Appleyard Duck

Close-up view of miniature silver ducks walking on a green grass with other breed of ducks

The Miniature Silver Appleyard was created by Tom Bartlett in the late 1980s. This breed differs from the Silver Bantam earlier thought to be the miniature version of the Large Silver Appleyard.

The Miniature Silver Appleyard is the bantam variety of the Silver Appleyard. They weigh one-third of the standard variety.

On average, the miniature males weigh 2.6-3 pounds, and the females weigh 2.3-2.6 pounds.

Miniature Appleyards are hardy and lively. They do well as garden ducks, and you can use them for exhibitions.

They are also great layers, and they are sometimes reared as a dual-purpose bird. You can expect between 200-270 white eggs from Miniature Appleyards per year.

6. Mallard Duck

Male mallard duck walking on ice on frozen river in winter at sunrise

Mallards are the most common ducks in North America. They are widespread in places like suburban parks and cities.

Mallards weigh 1.6-3.5 pounds, making them bigger than most other dabbling ducks. They grow to be about 23 inches long with a wingspan of 32-39 inches.

They feed on a variety of food both on water and on the ground. Although Mallards are usually non-selective, when breeding season comes, they feed mainly on animal matter.

Mallards commonly live in wetland areas. You may find them in marshes, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, city parks, and bogs.

All domestic ducks that are not Muscovy breeds come from Mallards.

Mallards have wild and domestic varieties, and the domestic mallards are kept for eggs and meat.

The wild varieties can be hunted in the United States, but they are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 – meaning they cannot be sold, purchased, transported, or possessed without a permit.

7. Wood Duck

side view image of Wood duck along with other ducks

One of the first things you’ll notice when you see a Wood duck is their uniquely colored plumage. Wood ducks are one of the prettiest waterfowls.

The males of this breed have a green crested head, light-brown wings, and chestnut breast. The females have gray crested heads, warm brown plumage, and a dark-blue patch in their wings.

On average, the adult wood duck is 19-21 inches, has a wingspan of 26-29 inches, and weighs between 1-1.9 pounds.