Poultry
Crested
C tier
Crested ducks carry a genetic pouf of feathers on the head and exist in various colour forms; they are kept for ornament and modest utility rather than specialised meat yield. Carcasses resemble medium mallard-type farm ducks—useful fat, moderate breast, and mild-rich flavour when well fed. Roast as a standard farm duck, accepting variable size by line. The crest is a live-bird trait that vanishes at processing; buy on meat quality and husbandry, not looks. Fun for smallholders who process their own ornamental-utility flocks.
Also known as: Crested duck, Crested
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
History
Crested ducks appeared in European art and farmyard records as novelty utility birds.
Crested ducks entered poultry standards as an ornamental-utility class.
Exhibition interest maintained crested genetics more than commercial meat breeding.
Backyard keepers still processed surplus crested ducks for home tables.