Which Duck is right for me?

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Krieger11

Krieger11

Hatching
Oct 15, 2015
9
1
9
Hello all,

As a gift for my girl friend i want to get her one or two ducks. She wants something that lays well at least every other day but still friendly enough to be handled. However, i have no experience with water foul what so ever...in other words HELP lol Breed recommendations for north Florida would be appreciated and what it takes to care for them so i can buy or build it all for her and surprise her with it
 
Well, as far as laying, my Buff Duck is the most consistent producer of eggs; even more so than our Khaki Campbells, who are known for laying almost every day of the year. So far as personality goes, I enjoy my Runner and Cayugas the best, as they are quite docile and don't mind being picked up an hugged occasionally, whereas the 3 Mallards (two ducks and a drake), 2 Khakis, and single Buff want absolutely nothing to do with me. Best wishes on your duck search!

-Alex
 
Cayugas are excellent layers, and are very friendly, as well. However, if you've never had experience with waterfowl at all, it may not be a good idea to get them merely as a gift for your lady friend. Ducks are a HUGE commitment.
 
Plan on getting two minimum. Get both females, so you will have two layers. Runners are a great duck that don't eat a ton, and consistently lay huge eggs. Please do a lot of research first though, they live for 10-12 years, and need constant care, safe shelter, and proper food and nutrition. They are as much of a time commitment as a puppy. The breed doesn't matter as much as how they are raised. You will need to get them as a day or two old, and handle them as much as possible. You need to spend literally hours with them every day when they are brooding, and you will have friends for life. If you don't spend as much time with them, they will be friendly, but not as tame as you would like.
 
Ducks are WAY more work than a puppy, but jducour and amykins are correct, the commitment has to be long term and you need to know what you are getting into ahead of time.
 
Thank you every one for all the input
sorry took so long to reply, been at sunbelt ag expo for a week, i will look into Runners and Cayugas because she would prefer friendly and good layers over great layers and scaredy bird
yes i get it, huge commitment but i have been doing livestock, farm and ag for better part of 18 years now, i know the commitment and if she doesn't want them any more then they will become my new pets.
Thanks again every one :)
 
Krieger11 said:
Thank you every one for all the input
sorry took so long to reply, been at sunbelt ag expo for a week, i will look into Runners and Cayugas because she would prefer friendly and good layers over great layers and scaredy bird
yes i get it, huge commitment but i have been doing livestock, farm and ag for better part of 18 years now, i know the commitment and if she doesn't want them any more then they will become my new pets.
Thanks again every one :)
Click to expand...

Careful with runners, they're total hams and you'll laugh every time you look at them, but they are typically very skittish. With lots of care and attention they can be super friendly birbs, but it doesn't come nearly as easily like it does with Cayugas, Calls and Pekins. Cayugas are pretty mellow, and Pekins can be sweet, gigantic couch potatoes.

Please accept our apologies for jumping to conclusions, you'd be amazed at the amount of new users we see who don't know thing one about ducks yet adamantly insist they can care for them, and the poor birbs suffer for it. We're all duck obsessed here so we only want the very best for our little webfeets!
 

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