Call Ducks or Bantams...Crazy Animals Around the Farm

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Soon2BChixMom said:
I keep coming back to them even when I think I have made my mind up about another breed.
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You can mix the species. Figuring out your wants or intentions from ducks can help you decide sometimes.

The main question is do you want to hear the traditional quacking? Muscovy mostly whisper hiss.

Do you want flying ducks? Do you have a color preference? Are you able to provide plenty of swimming water which needs changing a lot?

Muscovy generally take a bath or two a day where mallard based like being in the water almost constantly. Muscovy will roost, regular ducks won't.

Muscovy crossed with mallard based breeds will produce sterile hybrids.

Just a few pondering differences.
 
oldhenlikesdogs said:
You can mix the species. Figuring out your wants or intentions from ducks can help you decide sometimes.

The main question is do you want to hear the traditional quacking? Muscovy mostly whisper hiss.

Do you want flying ducks? Do you have a color preference? Are you able to provide plenty of swimming water which needs changing a lot?

Muscovy generally take a bath or two a day where mallard based like being in the water almost constantly. Muscovy will roost, regular ducks won't.

Muscovy crossed with mallard based breeds will produce sterile hybrids.

Just a few pondering differences.
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  1. So, my husband says we should have ducks to eat. But, I am not sure that I can do that. He says how you are able to do that is to not name them. He grew up on a dairy farm with named cows! Lol I don't really need many eggs - as we get enough from the chickens. Of course, if I get an egg laying duck, I could possibly convince my husband that we can't eat them. :D
  2. I know muscovy ducks fly, but I have read that you can clip their wings or that if they are tame enough they won't fly far. :fl I also think it would be good if they could fly to escape predators and then they could be more able to run around the property without me worrying as much. I also find it interesting that Muscovys come in a variety of colors.
  3. I have a huge kiddie pool that I got for the dogs and they rarely use it, but thought that I could set it up for the ducks once a week or so. Plus provide them with water elsewhere in a smaller set up (basin or large rubber bowl).
  4. I don't think quacking would bother me, but I don't really know how much quacking goes on. Lol One of my chickens makes a goose-like sound that doesn't bother me, but then if they all did it it might become annoying. :confused:
As far as other ducks, I find them pretty, but then kind of boring as they all look the same (to me). But, they look more like what people expect from a duck. As far as the Welsh Harlequins, they sound like a perfect beginner duck. So, really I am going back and forth deciding between the two. I need to expand my run area and get a better shelter/coop set up too (unless I can convince my husband to just give up the shed. :gig) Since ducks grow fast, I want to make sure I have a solid plan before acquiring them.

As far as ducks being messy, I get that when they are up and awake, but what do they do at night in their coop that makes a mess (besides poo)?
 
Let your muscovy set eggs and you will get plenty for meat. Our second year with them we had 4 hens. Husband said let them hatch. 35 days later we had more than 50 ducklings. We couldn't sell them so many were butchered. They are prolific.

You can clip a wing that will keep the hens mostly grounded. The drakes are too big to fly. Hens mostly glide when they want or need to like when my dog goes after them. Otherwise they walk everywhere and are good at getting around.

I haven't handled mine, and they aren't afraid of me. They are hardy long lived ducks. My oldest hen is 13.

Mine patrol the yard at night in warmer weather eating bugs and worms. In colder weather they roost at night to stay warm.

In the warmer months we fill a kiddy pool, or a small stock tank that I dump 1-2 times a week and refill. The water makes great fertilizer for plants if you want to make use of it. Otherwise mine are fine with rubber tubs and bowls.

It's been too many years since I had mallard based ducks, so I have only memories to go by. I remember them always quacking like a bunch of drunks at a comedy club. They are good for joke telling.

My muscovy do a neck bobbing and they whisper hiss to each other, with an occasional louder sound. I keep lots of chickens, turkeys, goats, and donkeys so it's always loud around here.

Some day I may get some regular ducks again, but so far I haven't. I find muscovy fit my life and set up currently better, plus my muscovy don't need much from me and are easy critters to keep.
 
MillersFarm said:
.... So I cracked, I've been broken. Chicken math has struck. Was just suppose to pick out breeds and max amount of chicks I was Suppose to get was 60.
Well, Chicken math had other plans I guess. :idunno I just ordered 78 chicks for may the 21st I know, I'm bad :th I couldn't help myself :barnie But anyways, I ordered
10 Easter Eggers
6 Jersey Giants
6 Partridge Rocks
6 Dominiques
6 Welsummers
8 Silver Cuckoo Marans
6 Light Brahmas
6 Delawares
6 Light brown Leghorns
6 Speckled Sussexs
6 Andalusians
And
6 Buff Orpingtons
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Trust me if I could order that many I would probably have ordered 100 chicks. :clap
@ViolinPlayer123 I can’t believe you :pYou did it again ;)
 
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