Historedia
AmericasEvent

First Pekin ducks imported to Long Island

When
1873
Where
New York City; Long Island
Episodes
2

In 1873, a shipment of Pekin ducks from China reached New York City after a 124-day voyage, with nine birds surviving. These survivors became the foundation stock of the American Pekin, a breed raised primarily for meat, and many of its ducks were later reared on Long Island, New York.

Episodes

  1. 13 March 1873 · New York CityArrival of Surviving Ducks

    Nine Pekin ducks survived a 124-day voyage from China, arriving in New York City on March 13, 1873.

  2. July 1873 · Long IslandFoundation Stock Production

    By July 1873, the surviving ducks had laid more than three hundred eggs, establishing the breed's viability.

Background and detail

Background. The American Pekin derives from Chinese stock, specifically the shi-chin-ya-tze or ten-pound duck. While other imports reached Europe, the American breed developed distinct characteristics through cross-breeding with Aylesbury ducks, resulting in a more horizontal stance compared to the German Pekin.

Establishment. The surviving birds from the 1873 shipment formed the foundation stock for the American Pekin. By July 1873, these birds had produced over three hundred eggs, demonstrating their viability. The breed was subsequently recognized in the first edition of the Standard of Perfection in 1874.

Breeding. Selective breeding in the United States focused on size, strength, and growth rate for meat production. Many ducks were reared on Long Island, leading to the name Long Island Duck. This breed now constitutes more than half of all ducks raised for slaughter in the US.

People involved

Sources

  1. American Pekin Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-18

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.