Are ducks good layers?

[tdaigle]

Are ducks good layers? If so which breed?

 

[quackingdom]

Yes, many breeds are very good layers:
Khaki Campbells lay 250-340 eggs a year.
Welsh Harlequins lay 240-330.
Runners lay 150-300.
Magpies lay 220-290.
Anconas lay 210-280.
Appleyards lay 200-270.
And Saxonys lay 190-240.
Some of the others are good layers, too, but these are the best.

 

[tdaigle]

I guess I was looking at the wrong breeds of ducks Because I was getting completely different numbers. Thank you for answering I was also wondering if I just treated them like chickens except I just give them a baby pool?

 

[quackingdom]

Yes, you can treat them like chickens pretty much, except:

1. Ducks won't use roosts.
2. Their nests have to be on the ground, not elevated.
3. They need a pool of some sort, but it doesn't have to be super big.
4. If you feed them chicken feed, you may run into problems because ducks need more niacin in their diet than what is offered in chicken feed. I don't have to do this myself, so I'm not quite sure what is the best way to feed them niacin.

Ducks are a lot messier, also.

I can't think of any other major differences right now. If there are any others I missed, someone else can probably tell you.