British Waterfowl Association

Rouen

Pair of Rouen Ducks
Pair of Rouen Ducks — Clare Lovegrove

The Mallard pattern is very clear. The Rouen’s genotype is wild-colour, critically M+/M+ Li+/Li+.

Two additional colours are presently standardised – the Blue and the Apricot. These colours are the same as the Blue Mallard and Apricot Mallard Call Ducks.

Apricot Rouen Duck
Apricot Rouen Duck — Tom Davis

The Apricot Rouen is wild colour with double blue dilution (Bl/Bl).

Apricot Rouen. This drake was a very early example of the colour in the UK. They were then bred back to the original Rouens to remove the white breast fringing and improve the shape — Julian Burrell

Heavy duck breed

Domesticated Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

The Rouen Duck is originally from France where they were used as a meat bird. They take 2 years to reach their full size of nearly 6 kg, so because of this, they are now used more for showing. The Rouen Duck is a very large, imposing breed, with the females being brown with very dark brown to black pencilling on the outside of the feathers. The drake has a green head, claret bib and grey body.

Rouen Duck
Rouen Duck from the late John Hall

The Blue Rouen is wild-colour with a single blue dilution (Bl/bl+).

Young Blue Rouen Duck
Young Blue Rouen Duck — Tom Davis
Rouen Duck — Clare Lovegrove

Ring Size

18mm

This size is only a guide. Please read more about ringing here.

Exhibition females don’t produce a huge number of eggs, laying between 100-150 eggs per year. They are a docile breed and tame reasonably easily. Because of their size, they cannot fly.