The Khaki Campbell is a [[Ducks|duck]] breed developed in England and recognized as the most prolific egg-laying duck breed in the world. Khaki Campbells are lightweight, active ducks that lay 300 or more eggs per year, surpassing most chicken breeds in egg production. The breed is kept primarily for egg production on homesteads and small farms and is valued for its feed efficiency, foraging ability, and calm temperament.
The Khaki Campbell was developed by Adele Campbell of Uley, Gloucestershire, England, in the late 19th century. Campbell crossed the Rouen and the Mallard with a small, nondescript Pakistani duck (possibly the Indian Runner) to create a breed that combined high egg production with good foraging ability. The breed was named for its khaki-colored plumage and for Campbell's surname.
The Khaki Campbell was first exhibited in 1898 and was quickly recognized for its laying ability. The breed was imported to the United States in the 1920s and was admitted to the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1941. Khaki Campbells were used extensively in duck egg production through the mid-20th century and remain the standard for egg production in ducks.
Khaki Campbells are medium-sized ducks with a streamlined body and upright carriage. Hens weigh 3.5 to 4.5 pounds (1.6 to 2.0 kilograms), and drakes weigh 4 to 5 pounds (1.8 to 2.3 kilograms). The plumage is a solid khaki-brown in females and a more subdued grayish-brown with a darker head and tail in males. The bill is greenish-black in males and slate or brownish in females. The legs and feet are orange.
The breed's defining trait is egg production. A well-managed Khaki Campbell hen lays 300 to 340 eggs per year. The eggs are large and white, weighing 2.5 to 3 ounces (70 to 85 grams) each. Khaki Campbells are excellent foragers and will obtain a significant portion of their diet from pasture and insects.
Khaki Campbells are kept for egg production on homesteads. A small flock of 4 to 6 hens can supply a family with duck eggs year-round. The eggs are valued for baking and cooking due to their high protein and fat content. The breed's foraging ability reduces feed costs when allowed access to pasture.
The ducks are active and alert, making them better at avoiding predators than the heavier meat breeds. They are not typically raised for meat due to their small body size. Khaki Campbells require water for dabbling but not for swimming, and they can be managed in dry pen systems with access to drinking water for immersion.