Abacot Ranger facts for kids
The Abacot Ranger is a special kind of duck. It was first known as the Hooded Ranger and also as the Streicherente (which means 'Ranger Duck' in Germany). This duck breed was originally raised for two main reasons: to lay eggs and to provide meat. Today, Abacot Rangers are popular for showing at exhibitions and for their excellent egg-laying abilities.
Contents
Where Did Abacot Rangers Come From?
The Abacot Ranger duck was created in the United Kingdom between 1917 and 1922. A person named Mr. Oscar Gray developed them at his farm, the Abacot Duck Ranch, in Colchester. The name "Abacot" came from Mr. Gray's home, which was called Abbott's Cottages.
How the Breed Started
Mr. Gray noticed some white ducks among his flock of Khaki Campbell ducks. He decided to breed these white ducks with white male Indian Runner ducks. The ducklings from this pairing were first called Hooded Rangers.
Early Success and Name Change
In 1922–23, these Hooded Rangers took part in egg-laying trials at Wye College. They did very well, earning the highest score in their group! Later, for other egg-laying trials at Bentley, their name was changed to Abacot Ranger. This name has stuck ever since.
A Breed's Journey
The Abacot Ranger was quite popular at first for both eggs and meat. However, it sadly disappeared from the United Kingdom. Luckily, in the 1970s, the breed was brought back to the UK from Germany. In 1983, the Abacot Ranger was officially recognized by the British Waterfowl Standard.
How Big Are Abacot Rangers?
Abacot Rangers are medium-sized ducks.
- A male Abacot Ranger, called a drake, usually weighs about 3 kilograms (6.6 lb).
- A female Abacot Ranger, simply called a duck, typically weighs around 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lb).
