Average Weight Of Duck ( With Example )

Ducks belong to the bird families. Specifically, they are in the Anatidae family. Belonging to the bird families means ducks have wings.

Unlike birds, they can’t fly. Yet, they have interlocking feathers that are also waterproof. Such attributes support their main ability, which is, to swim across any water body.

Their abilities to swim and their physical attributes may make people mistake them with swans and geese. Although all of them come from the same families, ducks are not swans or geese.

You can always find ducks wherever you go, but not in Antarctica. There are more than 30 types of ducks all around the U.S. Here, we provide you information on the weights of the ducks.

How Much Does A Duck Weigh?

The average weight of an adult duck is between 1 to 4 pounds (0.45 to 1.8 kg) depending on the type of duck.

  • mallard duck will weigh between 1.6 to 3.5 pounds
  • Pintail duck will weigh between 1 to 3.1 pounds
  • Gadwall (Alabama Mallard) will weigh between 1.1 to 2.2 pounds

Duck Pictures

Ducks’ Weight According To Their Genders And Ages

We call an adult male duck a drake. Conversely, the female ones are called hens. Ducks can’t be drakes or hens unless they reach at least 5-month old.

Drakes and hens tend to be more than 8 pounds heavy (3.63 kg). We consider some drakes and hens that weigh 11-12 pounds (4.99-5.44 kg) as overweight. Drakes and hens which weigh less than 6 pounds (2.72 kg) are underweight.

Ducklings are the names of baby ducks. These include hatched ducks and those that are about to reach 5-month old. The weight of the ducklings’ eggs tends to be 0.15-0.18 pounds (0.7-0.8 kg).

The older the ducks, the heavier they are. This condition also depends on their breeds. We’ll cover up each breeds’ weights over the next point.

Duck Breeds And Their Weights

The common eider is the heaviest duck breed in the northern hemisphere. In general, they are more than 35 pounds (15.88 kg) heavy. This weight is on par with the trumpeter swan, the largest waterfowl in North America.

The mallards are the breeds that most people know. In these breeds, the drakes’ and hens’ weight ranges are between 1.6-3.5 pounds (0.72-1.6 kg). These are heavier than other dabbling ducks. Yet, there are exceptions to the Alabama Mallard breeds, in which the weights are 1.1-2.2 pounds (or 0.5-1 kg).

The Northern pintail is yet another one of the most popular dabbling ducks. The drakes in this breed weigh 0.99-3 pounds (0.45-1.36 kg), while the hens’ normal weights are 1-2.5 pounds (0.45-1.1 kg).

These make them heavier than South Georgia pintails. The South Georgia pintail drakes are 1.34-1.46 pounds (0.61-0.66 kg), and the hens are 1-1.46 pounds (0.46-0.61 kg).

The Muscovy Duck is known as the largest duck in North America, West. Adult males can reach 15 lbs.

Factors That Impact Ducks’ Weights

All in all, ducks’ weight depends on their habitats and how are they groomed. These two factors are as important as their ages, genders, and different duck breeds.

You should consider different treatments for your ducks in summer and winter. Ideally, place not more than 3 adult ducks in one square meter to prevent them from getting sick. Fences, heating, and room ventilation are among the factors you should consider.

Drakes and hens eat crustaceans, seeds, insects, worms, and more. Ducklings generally eat whatever the hens are eating.

Those are the information of how much a duck can weigh. Refer to this article whenever you’re confused about how heavy the ducks are.