Champion duck Felicia is following in father Ferdinand's webbed footprints

The near-perfect Indian Runner was this week named Grand Champion Waterfowl and Reserve Champion Bird at Sydney's Royal Easter Show, following her father Ferdinand who last year became the first duck to win overall Champion Bird.

Benn said the effort that goes into taking a duck all the way is no small feat - particularly keeping Felicia clean and warm in the garage during weeks of heavy rain.

Good weather for ducks, they say - unless the duck is white and headed for a show.

Read more: The Illawarra residents still COVID-free after two years

"We did have another bird planned to go but after all the rain she ended up getting a little bit stained," Benn said. "So Felicia jumped in at the last minute and ... ended up going all the way.

"In their runs, they live on clean river sand so they keep clean all the time and it drains quickly. But with all the rain it never stopped. The week or two before the show we have a big double garage, we bring them in to there and have heaters going on them, and lights, to keep them comfortable and warm, especially at this time of year - trying not to get them to set or stained.

"They have drinks, and warmed-up wheat, we get all that ready so they are feeling very content and are able to maintain weight. We give them several baths before the show, one probably a week and a half out ... but we don't like to overwash them (or) they lose the oils that keep the feathers in place.

"We use soap-free soap (so to speak) and keep them nice and clean until the show time arrives."

It's not easy beating the all-powerful chooks, to whom judges are used to giving the big prizes year after year, but Benn said increasing knowledge of ducks was showing in the placings.

"We are very, very happy - and shocked," Mr Benn said. "It's very hard to get a duck that high up, and we've managed to get up in the top awards both years now."

"It was good to see Ferdinand's progeny show strong in the arena.

"Ferdinand being a dad now, he's put on some weight, and he looks more mature but Felicia is still very much on the slender side."

And the characteristics that make a champion duck?

"Clean and white, the feather being good quality and not dry, you're looking for an orange bill that resembles a wedge shaped like a door-stopper, you're looking for a really high eye in the skull, that's blue, a long slender neck that evolves down into the body - it's supposed to resemble somewhat like a wine bottle - and the slender neck travels gently into the main body of the duck.

"We use an Australian Standard, a standard of perfection, and that's our guide as to what we're meant to be breeding to."

Ferdinand showed well, winning best male and placing second for Best Indian Runner - to Felicia, but she couldn't quite match his effort from last year.

And with Felicia just five months old, this is just the beginning of her showing career.

To read more stories, download the Illawarra Mercury news app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Sign up for breaking news emails below: