When I decided to add more ducks to my flock, I searched long and hard for a unique breed. I also wanted to own birds who were in need of conservation help. I happened to stumble upon the Magpie Ducks. Everything about them seemed perfect. I was looking for a good egg layer, but not a very large bird. So once I decided i wanted to own magpies, I then had to actually find some for sale. That was difficult. It seems there are very few breeders of Magpie ducks out there. The American Livestock Breed Conservancy list Magpie Ducks as critical. Eventually, I tripumped, finding someone who was willing to sell hatching eggs. From those eggs, I hatched two females and one drake, a perfect little starter flock!
Color didn't really matter to me, but these magpies are certainly striking. In my opinion, they are beautiful. I love the sharp contrast between black and white. Their bright yellow beaks are freckled with darker pigment. And each bird has a slightly different pattern, so I can tell them apart.
Next year I plan to add more magpies, and concentrate on them. I only have one other duck, a female pekin, so I don't have to worry about losing purebred magpies through mixed breeding. I can tell the pekin egg apart quite easily!
The half star down is for how difficult it is to acquire them. But if more folks start breeding them, hopefully that fact will change!
Color didn't really matter to me, but these magpies are certainly striking. In my opinion, they are beautiful. I love the sharp contrast between black and white. Their bright yellow beaks are freckled with darker pigment. And each bird has a slightly different pattern, so I can tell them apart.
Next year I plan to add more magpies, and concentrate on them. I only have one other duck, a female pekin, so I don't have to worry about losing purebred magpies through mixed breeding. I can tell the pekin egg apart quite easily!
The half star down is for how difficult it is to acquire them. But if more folks start breeding them, hopefully that fact will change!