Best duck breeds

[JacinLarkwell]

In a few years after I move, I want to have a flock of ducks for meat. I want a pekin male, but worry that he might be too big for other belreeds besides other pekins.

Obviously no runner, but what breeds would be good to mix with a pekin and what should I avoid? I don't care about dark pin feathers so am open to dark feathered breeds

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I like muscovy personally. They reproduce well, and they don't require as much water as mallard based ducks.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Can you breed them to a male pekin? I know one way doesn't create offspring and the other makes mules (I don't care about mules since they'd be for eating anyhow).

Though I suppose I could always use a male and get some pekin females too

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm not totally sure how mules are made with muscovy. Mallard based duck breeds breed more vigorously than muscovy, so maybe a pekin drake would be too much for them. Why don't you just keep all pekin?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm not totally sure how mules are made with muscovy. Mallard based duck breeds breed more vigorously than muscovy, so maybe a pekin drake would be too much for them. Why don't you just keep all pekin?

I want a flock with color. I personally can't stand more than a white bird or two in my flocks, but I habe first hand experience with how large pekin hens get

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Well hopefully more duck people have opinions on what's best.

 

[Sadness Child]

I have always heard about muscovy ducks getting fairly large.

 

[Floof]

Silver appleyards are very pretty and my female is the same size and my pekin female (although my SA drakes are smaller than my pekin drake )

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Silver appleyards are very pretty and my female is the same size and my pekin female (although my SA drakes are smaller than my pekin drake )

Okay, but you think the females would be able to support a male pekin?

 

[Sadness Child]

I did research and if a Pekin male and a Muscovy female breed it is a Hinnie according to metzer farms.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/MuleDucks.cfm#:~:text=If you cross a Muscovy,fat content in the carcass.