Duck · breed notes

Rouen Duck

The Rouen is the dark, wild-looking duck whose plumage Howard thought was close to that of the Mallard. Below is what two early books on ducks say about it, quoted line by line. The drake changes its colour in summer, and the books describe the shape of the body in different terms.

Where it comes from

Howard gives the Rouen a French home town but is careful about it. The ducks are said to have come originally from the city of Rouen in Normandy, and he admits there may be no positive proof of this. He also takes up the spelling: some writers wanted the name to be "Roan" because of the colour, and he says the colour does not support that, so Rouen is the correct name and Roan a corruption. Lamon and Slocum do not mention Normandy or the Roan spelling anywhere in their book.

These ducks are said to have come originally from the city of Rouen, in Normandy.Howard, 1897, Ducks and Geese: Standard Breeds and Management
The correct name is Rouen, and "Roan" is undoubtedly a corruption.Howard, 1897, Ducks and Geese: Standard Breeds and Management

More from the books (1)

there may be no positive proof that these ducks came originally from that cityHoward, 1897, Ducks and Geese: Standard Breeds and Management

Both books tie the Rouen to the wild Mallard, from different angles. Howard says the plumage alone is enough to show the two are closely related, while the shape of the domestic bird has changed a good deal: a longer, heavier body and wings that no longer fly. Lamon and Slocum put the same likeness the other way round, saying the Mallard's plumage is very similar to the Rouen's but lighter in shade.

The Rouen is undoubtedly closely related to the Mallard duck; its plumage alone would make good this belief.Howard, 1897, Ducks and Geese: Standard Breeds and Management
The plumage of the Mallard is very similar to that of the Rouen but of a lighter shade.Lamon & Slocum, 1922, Ducks and Geese

More from the books (1)

the body is grown longer and heavier, with a tendency to drop down in the rear; the wings have lost the power of flight which the wild ancestor possessed.Howard, 1897, Ducks and Geese: Standard Breeds and Management

How to recognise one

Start with the neck. The drake has a lustrous green head and neck broken by a white ring low on the neck, and the ring does not quite meet at the back. Lamon and Slocum call the ring an important part of the marking and ask for it to be distinct, clean cut and not too wide. They add that the ring should not quite come together in the rear. Under the ring, Howard describes a broad, deep breast of purplish brown or claret colour.

interrupted by a distinct white ring, not quite complete behind, on the lower part of neckHoward, 1897, Ducks and Geese: Standard Breeds and Management
The white ring about the neck of the drake is an important part of the marking.Lamon & Slocum, 1922, Ducks and Geese

More from the books (1)

In the females solid yellow bills, fawn colored breasts and absence of penciling must be avoided.Lamon & Slocum, 1922, Ducks and Geese

For the build, the 1922 book is the one to read. Lamon and Slocum describe a bird very level in body and massive, with a slightly arched back from neck to tail and a bill whose upper line is slightly dished. They tell breeders to guard against a flat or concave back. Howard adds that the wings are short and carried close against the sides, and that the shanks are orange with a brownish tinge.

In type these birds are very level in body and are massiveLamon & Slocum, 1922, Ducks and Geese

Temperament and habits

Colour is the unusual thing about this breed through the year. Lamon and Slocum say the drakes of the Rouen, and also of the Gray Call and the Mallard, moult around the start of June into a plumage that is practically the female's, and keep it until about October, when the normal winter male plumage comes back gradually. Their book has photographs of a Rouen drake in this summer dress. Howard's description of the Rouen does not mention the summer change.

The drakes of this breed and likewise of the Gray Call and the Mallard show a peculiar behavior with respect to the color of their plumage.Lamon & Slocum, 1922, Ducks and Geese
This female plumage is retained until about October when they gradually regain their normal winter male plumage.Lamon & Slocum, 1922, Ducks and Geese

More from the books (1)

The Rouen shows some tendency to fade in color.Lamon & Slocum, 1922, Ducks and Geese

Young Rouens are harder to sort by sex. Lamon and Slocum say youngsters of both sexes wear female plumage until the last moult, at about four or five months of age, when the drakes take on the adult male plumage. Before that the sexes can still be told apart, they add, by the colour of the bill. Howard has one line on temperament, calling the breed quiet in disposition.

Young Rouens of both sexes have female plumage until the last moult which occurs at about four or five months of ageLamon & Slocum, 1922, Ducks and Geese

More from the books (1)

Of course, a certain percentage of them will go broody and show a desire to sitLamon & Slocum, 1922, Ducks and Geese

The two books side by side

Point	Howard, 1897	Lamon & Slocum, 1922
White ring on the drake	Distinct, not quite complete behind“a distinct white ring, not quite complete behind, on the lower part of neck” (Howard, 1897)	Important marking; clean cut, not quite closed in the rear“should not quite come together in the rear” (Lamon & Slocum, 1922)
Ring on the duck	None“there is no white ring on the neck” (Howard, 1897)	Any approach to a ring disqualifies“Any approach to a ring in the female is a disqualification.” (Lamon & Slocum, 1922)
Body	Long, deep and broad“The body is long, deep, and broad” (Howard, 1897)	Very level and massive“In type these birds are very level in body and are massive” (Lamon & Slocum, 1922)
Back	Long“The back is long” (Howard, 1897)	Slightly convex or arched“The back of the Rouen should have a slightly convex or arched shape from neck to tail” (Lamon & Slocum, 1922)
Drake's bill	Long and broad, greenish yellow, black bead at the tip“bill long and broad, wider at the extremity, of greenish-yellow color, with a black bead at the tip” (Howard, 1897)	Upper line slightly dished“The upper line of the bill should be slightly dished or concave.” (Lamon & Slocum, 1922)
Shanks	Orange with a brownish tinge“in color orange with brownish tinge” (Howard, 1897)	Not described in this book
Summer plumage of the drake	Not described in this book	Practically that of the female“the new plumage is practically that of the female” (Lamon & Slocum, 1922)

Old standard weights

Book	Adult drake	Adult duck	Young drake	Young duck
Howard, 1897	9 lb	8 lb	8 lb	7 lb
Lamon & Slocum, 1922	9 lb	8 lb	8 lb	7 lb

The two books give the same figure in every column. Both are historical show standards from their own year, not the current American Poultry Association standard.

As printed in Howard, 1897: The standard weight of the adult drake is 9 pounds; adult duck, 8 pounds; young drake, 8 pounds, and young duck, 7 pounds.

As printed in Lamon & Slocum, 1922: Rouen 9 8 8 7

Where the two books disagree

Both books describe the Rouen as long and deep in the body, but they do not put the line of the body in the same way. Howard writes of a tendency to drop down in the rear; Lamon and Slocum describe a body that is very level and should be carried practically horizontal. Neither book comments on the other.

with a tendency to drop down in the rearHoward, 1897, Ducks and Geese: Standard Breeds and Management

In type these birds are very level in bodyLamon & Slocum, 1922, Ducks and Geese

Questions readers ask

Why is it called the Rouen duck?

Howard says the ducks are said to have come originally from the city of Rouen in Normandy, though he allows there may be no positive proof. He also says the correct name is Rouen and that Roan, the spelling some writers wanted because of the colour, is a corruption. Lamon and Slocum do not mention Normandy or the Roan spelling.

How do you tell a Rouen drake from a duck?

By the neck first. Howard gives the drake a distinct white ring on the lower neck, not quite complete behind, and says the duck has no white ring. Lamon and Slocum make it a show rule that any approach to a ring in the female is a disqualification. Both books also give the drake a heavier standard weight than the duck.

Why does the Rouen drake look like a duck in summer?

Lamon and Slocum say the drakes moult about June 1 and the new plumage is practically that of the female, kept until about October, when the winter male plumage returns gradually. They say the Gray Call and the Mallard drakes do the same. Lamon and Slocum call it a peculiar behavior and give no reason in that passage; Howard's description of the Rouen does not mention it.

Will a Rouen duck sit on her eggs?

Not as a rule, in the 1922 book. It names only the Muscovy, the Call and the Black East India as broody breeds and classes all the others as non-broody, though a certain percentage of them will go broody. Howard's Rouen section does not mention sitting.

Is the Rouen related to the Mallard?

Howard says it undoubtedly is, and that the plumage alone would make good this belief. He adds that the shape of the domestic bird has changed, with a longer, heavier body and wings that have lost the power of flight. Lamon and Slocum say the Mallard's plumage is very similar to the Rouen's but lighter in shade.

The books quoted here

Ducks and Geese: Standard Breeds and Management, George E. Howard (1897; USDA Farmers' Bulletin No. 64). Full text and catalogue entry.
Ducks and Geese, Harry M. Lamon and Rob R. Slocum (1922; Orange Judd Publishing Company, New York). Full text and catalogue entry.

At a glance

Said to come from: The city of Rouen, in Normandy“These ducks are said to have come originally from the city of Rouen, in Normandy.” (Howard, 1897)
Colour pattern: Parti-colored“The Rouen duck is a parti-colored breed” (Lamon & Slocum, 1922)
Drake's neck: White ring, not quite closed behind“interrupted by a distinct white ring, not quite complete behind, on the lower part of neck” (Howard, 1897)
Duck's neck: No white ring“unlike the drake, there is no white ring on the neck” (Howard, 1897)
Body: Level, carried nearly horizontal“The body of the Rouen should be carried practically horizontal.” (Lamon & Slocum, 1922)
Drake in summer: Takes on nearly the female plumage“About June 1 the drakes moult, losing their characteristic male adult plumage and the new plumage is practically that of the female.” (Lamon & Slocum, 1922)
Flight: The wings have lost it“the wings have lost the power of flight which the wild ancestor possessed” (Howard, 1897)