Chocolate Runner Ducklings

Valley Hatchery’s Chocolate Runner Ducklings offer a blend of unique history, functionality, and beauty. Hailing from Southeast Asia, their ancestry is celebrated in stone carvings from Java, dating back over 2000 years. These ducks, originally bred for high egg production and mobility, continue to be used in traditional farming practices, where they forage in fields for waste rice, weed seeds, and insects, contributing significantly to natural pest control. The Chocolate Runner Duck stands out with its rich brown coloring and distinctive upright posture, which allows for efficient movement and reduces the risk of trampling garden vegetation. These ducks are light, weighing 3.25-4 lbs, and exhibit an energetic yet nervous personality. They mature within 20-24 weeks and are hardy in various climates. As a light class duck, they are ideal for egg production, laying 100-180 eggs per year, mostly bluish-green in color. Despite their fair mothering abilities, they excel in foraging, making them excellent for organic insect control. The breed’s name, “Indian Runner,” originated from a misidentification when they were first imported into England in the 1850s. Initially thought to be from India, their true Southeast Asian origins were acknowledged later. Before the development of the Khaki Campbell, Runners were the most prolific egg-laying ducks, a testament to their enduring productivity. Choosing Chocolate Runner Ducklings from Valley Hatchery means investing in a breed that combines ornamental appeal with practical egg-laying capabilities, all while supporting the conservation of a unique and historically significant breed.