Best backyard duck breed?

[Zombified]

Excellent point, Ghislain.

The Welsh Harlequins do have a very light color, so predators are more likely to snatch them up. We haven't had any predatory issues because we have a dog that pretty consistently patrols the backyard. But yes, you definitely need to see what kind of predators are in your area and take that into consideration.

 

[jadeduck13]

I would not get Pekin ducks or Calls. Welsh Harlequins or Muscovies (although they do fly- but their wings can be clipped) would be a great backyard breed. Good luck with your ducks!

 

[laughingdog]

I like atributes of runners and cambels, butgot scovys as all around ducks easy to start with. they ate all the flies, mosquitoes, gnats, ants, roaches, snails,slugs, ticks, spiders, scorpions, snakes, and small rodents. Oddly they won't eat smalk young pigeons, songbirds, or small young banty chooks. they trim the grass and water with wet fertilizer that seems right down in so no piles to step in, and oddly not burning lawn or garden), eat the weeds(except one broad leafed one), haven't touched the garden for some reason. lay huge rich eggs, and my female started laying evety day, four days after got, for about twenty four days, then sat on eggs left, as i ate some. Hatched her first clutch out along with chicken eggs, defending from neighbor dogs, cats, and a least weasel. they took a week or two to fully tame to be able to pet, as year old adults never any anything before that. Most mallard duck breeds never become or stay tame as adults. they make hardly any sound except cooing grunting and hissing. they have head crests that they can raise and lower. they have claws to climb and defend selces with along with good hard nail at end of beak, but mine haven't used either on me, but backed off dogs before they could get at eggs/ducklings until my collie could get them. they are easily trained, herded, great memorys, and come when called.

now the cons.. they get under foot, beg for food and follow you around, can climb on fences and may perch on, may chase cats and dogs for fun. will be on your porch every morning waiting for you to feed cats. will be at back porch every night waiting for you to feed dogs. Anything that hits the ground food wise is gone no matter how small. they will be waiting for you when you get home. they don't sleep they nap and are up most of night foraging or waiting for bugs to fall from your porch light, or for you to come out or let them in. they may get into trash cans and bags. they may steal eggs when nesting.

 

[laughingdog]

They can be needy pesty birds sorta like dogs with feathers.. they may fly when testing and real young, but mine at year old watch floxks of wild ducks and geese migrate and just go on about day, or hiss at them. the female i only recently clipped one wing as her babies freaked when she flew around in big fart circles. male hasn't stretched his wings since i got him/the pair.

 

[AvianEgo]

I live in the city and have 3 saxonies. Nice ducks but i was told they are quieter. My females are not as quiet as i would like. They quack loudly when ever someone comes out of the house, and pretty much just for the heck of it multiple times a day. hope the girls quiet down as they get older. Fiances parents have a female rouen. She is a few years old, but never hear a peep from her

 

[WVMHP]

I just purchased a trio of Cayugas to go along with my trio of Muscovy. Read that the Cayugas are quiet and good backyard ducks. So far I am not impressed at all with the Cayugas. They are extremely noisy compared to my Muscovies, and they boss my chickens around. Also, not people friendly. The Cayuga drake seems pretty rough on his ducks whereas my Muscovy drake is extremely attentive and "loving" towards his girls. He snuggles and grooms them frequently and stands guard over them. The only advantage I see of the Cayugas is that they're extremely cold hardy. I wish I'd gotten more Muscovies instead. :-(

 

[insanity]

We have decided to get a few ducks. I am really lost on the best breeds for suburbia. We would like eggs, but we have plenty of hens, so laying isn't really critical. We have on order some Cayugas, but I can still change that for a few weeks.

We need quieter, good natured ducks. Any ideas? Are Cayugas good?

I went with Muscovys. I got 5 2 drakes and 3 hens. They get along with the chickens(even the smallest bantams) and have really layed back personalities.They even run off the feral cats that come around and raise a fuss when the local hawk starts circling like an alarm. Otherwise they stay quiet (alot quieter than my chickens and the egg song)but they saw what the hawk can do. The only thing I don't like is the mess but all ducks are messy with the food/water.

 

[mfaith694]

call ducks are cute, quiet, easy to handle, don't need much food or space, and are known for their voice.

 

[laughingdog]

@Faith,
id be interested in learning more about your quiet call ducks, as all I've seen name says and originally bred for. my uncle kept some calls bred to be gentle friendly but very loud to attract other ducks to shoot. i imagine someone has been working to try to make them pet material as in quiet and less messy. my uncle kept his in fish tank or box back and fourth, and in covered clean water tank or fresh dry wood chips/shavings, they immediately got them completely filthy (in his basement den or office). They took up extremely little space and always cheerful but obnoxiously loud even from up stairs (why they were kept like they were), until one had an accident that died from, then other didn't make any noise till it died prpbly of grief soon after.

 

[Going Quackers]

The only quiet call duck is a drake, females are NOT in the least bit quiet. I own some, so i know lol