Where to get fertilized eggs?

[Chickchick121]

Where is the best place to get fertilized duck eggs?

Where is the best place to get baby ducks?

What breed would you start out with?

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I started out 8 years ago with two ducklings from my local feed store. I had done my research and was told they were chocolate runners. They were Khaki Campbell’s but they were wonderful ducks. Since then I have had more Khakis and Khaki mixes, a Welsh Harlequin and Swedish ducks. They all were great. Currently, I have added Dutch Hookbills. They are my all time favorite. They have so much personality, they lay blue eggs, they are excellent bug catchers, and the drakes are not big jerks to the girls (my Khaki drakes were). One of the top breeders of Hookbills is in Birmingham, AL if you are interested in them. Usually eggs aren’t available until early spring (February).

 

[cmobley]

 

[Miss Lydia]

I love hatching but getting ducklings is a more sure thing. Also, if you get ducklings you can get sexed ducklings. Hatching is the luck of the draw.

Your so right, I broke down and let my Muscovyg have 2 Runner eggs this past June she hatched 2 drakes and I already had 2 so I ordered 4 Little Runner females from Metzers . I am so glad I did, not just add more females but just the joy of raising these little ones and NO more hatching here. This is the 3rd time More drakes than females have hatched.

 

[Miss Lydia]

i started out with Muscovy mainly because I rescued them from our mountain river .This was in 2004 but after being on BYC for many years I fell in love with Runners and Buffs so in 2016 I got eggs and had my Muscovy hatch them for me. So now I have 3 breeds and love them all.
This might help you decide
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duck-breed-focus-project.1024526/

 

[Chickchick121]

Where are you at? Metzer is supposed to be good but it depends what you want ducks for.

Alabama. I came across Metzer when I was looking at hatcheries.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Alabama. I came across Metzer when I was looking at hatcheries.

I like what I got from Metzer and Dunlap. Lost a duckling early from Dunlap, but that was the only one out of like 30 that had any issues besides receiving a Jumbo Pekin instead of a normal

 

[Miss Lydia]

First time for me ordering ducklings from Metzers. They arrived from Tenn. and are 9 weeks old and are so adorable I truly rec them. These are Runners. My last time ordering from a hatchery[2019] I ordered 4 and lost 3 so I was not a fan of hatcheries until now.

 

[cmobley]

Thank you! I live in Birmingham and that is so helpful. Do you prefer getting fertilized eggs vs. Ducklings?

I’m down in Mobile but have a farm right outside of Greenville Al. We’ve owned several different types of ducks but never Muscovys. Right now we have silver appleyard a drake and 5 hens and they have been the most laid back,calm,quietest ducks we’ve ever owned. I have 4 in the brooder right now we hatched from eggs they’re 2 weeks old and unless someone’s hiding their parts I believe they’re all females. The adults I believe came from Meyer hatchery. I order from them a good bit.

 

[cmobley]

My little boy he’s 10 he loves ducks. We had a mixed group a while back fenced yard and they were penned up. 2 dogs came while we were away and killed them all, then a mcmurray hatchery book came a week or so later and he went to reading and looking at different types and likes the appleyard, so for his birthday last January I ordered some I can’t remember from there or Meyer though. They’ve been really nice they’re quiet and social. They still live inside at night and go out in a big pen during the day