Beginner ducks?

[FenDruadin]

Welsh Harlequins are relative newcomers to the U.S. but are nevertheless becoming very popular because of their excellent qualities. They make good pets, excellent layers, good mamas, and they can even be sexed at hatching with good accuracy by the color of their bills. They're also pretty, and medium sized. I think they will probably be an excellent choice for you.

 

[Squirtchy2009]

Im 15 and have just brought 4 call ducks, they make brilliant pets, they are small, quack a bit

dont make to much mess, do'nt really require that much and are tamable, only down side is they dont ley that many eggs but thats no reason not to have a think

Squirtch

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thank you all. i also think welsh harlequins are good. And Squirtchy2009 call ducks may also be good thanks. Curiosity cat i think welsh harlequins may also be good if I want baby ducks. Thanks. But I still have not decided yet so I will look into the breeds further thanks.
thank you.

 

[ShrekDawg]

What do you do with the duck eggs and how do you know if they are fertile or not? Also do/can ducks go broody too like chickens do? Thanks

edited for spelling

 

[FenDruadin]

Eat them, of course!

They are very yummy. Baking, frying, scrambling, basting--good for everything. More nutritious than chicken eggs, and provide more "loft" for baking too. Cook up a bit stiffer but I like the texture--if you want them softer, you can always add a splash of milk.

If you have a male and a female, most of your eggs will be fertile. But don't worry--you won't know the difference just for eating. If you want to hatch them and you are concerned about fertility, you can tell by cracking the egg open and looking for a characteristic "bull's eye" that is best described by a photo that is in another thread (you'll have to search, though, or maybe someone else can post it). Or, you can wait seven days and "candle" for fertility, which is also in many other threads or you can just google--lots of descriptions out there for what you'll be looking for.

Like I said, though, if you've got a boy and fewer than a dozen girls, likelihood is they'll all be fertile. Drakes do good work.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Ok thanks and do duck eggs kind of taste like chicken eggs or what?

 

[ShrekDawg]

did anyone see this pair? too cute and funny! http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14516474 read the story and watch the video too. http://www.startribune.com/local/55547267.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ too cute!

 

[FenDruadin]

Yup, duck eggs taste pretty much like chicken eggs. I think if I scrambled some and offered you a bite of each, you probably wouldn't know which was which. That's assuming, of course, that they were both farm fresh out of your own backyard eggs--because fresh eggs DEFINITELY taste different and BETTER than store bought. You will never want to taste another store bought egg once you've had them out of your own backyard.

I'll check out the video tomorrow. I've got to go to bed! G'night.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Ok thanks. good night.

and by the way the video/story is very cute and also funny and adorable. so definately check it out tommorow.

thanks good night.

 

[Luna_Chick66]

Quote:
aw that is too sweet. I hope those guys find a forever, loving home together.

I am kind lurking in the duck section because I have wanted ducks since I've started wanting chickens, but I don't have a pond... I have an in-ground pool. Does anybody here let thier ducks swim in thier pool? I know they'll probably poop in it.... but once in awhile shouldn't be too bad, plus I would be willing to put a small pond in for them on my property.