Buff Orpington ducks from Metzer's hatchery

I'm starting a new duck flock and am going to be buying some Buff Orpington ducks. I had some years ago and really liked the breed. I had Khaki Campbells also at that time and when I walked into the pen the Buffs stayed calm and the Campbells panicked and tried to fly over the sides of the 6 ft. pen.

I'm wondering about the quality of the Buff Orpingtons from Metzer's. I don't expect 'show quality' but hope for something that is a decent example of the breed. Does anyone have any experience with Buff Orpingtons from Metzer's?

I'm also getting a couple of Chocolate Runners and Khaki Campbells for a crossbreeding project from Metzer's as well, and would like information on that if anyone has them.

The reason I hope to buy from Metzer's is that they are big on egg-laying ducks and I'm hoping the Campbells at least are a good egg-laying strain. It would be nice of the Buffs and Runners are good egg-layers too. Most of the other hatcheries I know about specialize in chickens, or don't carry the three breeds I want this year.

(I know many people don't like ANY commercial hatchery stock, but as I am starting out new I want some from a hatchery now and may get some from good private breeders later on.)

I only have one buff from Metzers, but she is pretty good sized. She is nearly as big as my pekin was. She is also one of the more people friendly ducks, and eats out of my hand. Can't speak for all Metzer buffs but I like mine



She was finishing Her molt in this pic. She's much prettier now but I have no recent pics.

I had a buff Drake from metzer. He was somewhat friendly and was almost as good as my Rouen alpha. Note on that Rouen he's boss over pekins and appleyards and almost as big as them even though he's a utility strain. Point is metzer buffs are pretty big.

I had read somewhere that Metzer Buffs were good sized compared to those from some other hatcheries. I like the 'friendly' aspect of the breed as well. Some of the other breeds I've owned are too flighty for me.

I have a Buff from Metzer. She's beautiful and pretty well-tempered. She is always the first to come right up to me and eat out of my hand or sit on my lap. She is a lot smaller than my cayuga, if that's gives you a good scale to compare.






This is her (that's not an actual crown on her though!)