cayuga vs welsh harlequin for pet..

[kaciebig]

I've been wanting a pet duck and pretty sure I have narrowed down to a cayuga or welsh harlequin. I'm going to get two eggs and raise them. Can anyone tell me their experience with either of these two ducks; temperament, messiness, noisy, etc... Also, can I put them in my chicken coop once they are bigger? Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

I think if they are both female and you handle the introductions carefully, and their personalities mesh, you probably can do that.

I have Runners and Buffs, mostly... I hear good things about both Cayugas and Welsh Harlequins.

 

[Pyxis]

! I'm biased, but I breed Welshies and absolutely love them. They are calm and docile and they can live in a chicken coop as long and there's enough space and there's not a long narrow ramp for them to walk up. Also if they both end up being drakes I really advise against this because two drakes with no mates can and will try to mate with your hens and due to anatomical differences this can kill the hens.

I noticed you said you want to get two eggs and raise them from there. If you want two ducks you're better off getting more eggs, probably at least four, because there is no guarantee both eggs would hatch, especially if it's your first try at incubating. If you ended up with more than two ducklings you could either keep them all (four ducks aren't really that much more trouble than two) or sell the extras.

 

[gal5150]

Great choices! I have one of each as pets, both hens, and they're wonderful. I picked WH bc of their mellow reputation and Cayuga bc of their reputation for being quite and relatively mellow.

Both, at 3 mos, are very stable and even tempered. The Cayuga is more inquisitive, sassy, and bold than the WH, who is more reserved and mellow in general but also more quick to try to challenge us and be a butt until she realizes she's not gonna win...then she settles right in and is an absolute love. The Cayuga is more demanding and, currently, quite LOUD in her attempts to get her way....whether that be attention, goodies, or general protest bc the WH is getting 1:1 time. Hoping she quiets down a bit..that would be my only complaint about her. Both were excellent choices for pets and I don't think you can go wrong with either, or a mix of the two!

 

[kaciebig]

How sweet! Thanks for the reply! Did they imprint on you? and are they allowed in the house? Maybe I will get one of each too

 

[gal5150]

While both had the same hatch date, the Cayuga appeared to have hatched much later in the day than the WH, in size, general development, and imprinting. She is much closer to what I'd call imprinted than the WH....but they are both super bonded with myself and my two daughters. If something spooks them, they run to us for protection, etc. We tried diapers but it wasn't a good fit for the ducks or us. They are outdoors until sunset, then they are indoors either in a pen in the living room (if they're feeling like a Netflix binge), or in their "coop" which is my daughter's very large shower stall attached to their bedroom. Every night my 9 yr old reads a bedtime story to us and my 7 yr old and I hold a duck. It's a lovely balance of respecting their need to splash and play and be ducks and still retaining this wonderful bond we've all created. Here's Dolly, HUGE Orange is the New Black fan

And Fiona, a hell raiser and big fan of trying to drink out of my cup!

. The girls LOVE to tell me about going potty in the middle of the night and catching Fiona hovering a few inches off the ground to greet them. Hysterical! They're both really great breeds. Let us know what you decide and post pics when they hatch!!!!!!!!

 

[kaciebig]

Ah! this just got me so excited! They are adorable! I will post once I get the eggs. Where did you get your eggs from? Thank you!

 

[kaciebig]

@gal5150

 

[gal5150]

I got them as day olds from Metzer. So glad this got you excited......its SOOOO exciting! Just a couple more to push you over the edge of out-of-your-mind-pumped....

Last but not least, tonight, watching Sons of Anarchy reruns....I told you she was sassy

Again, super excited for you, you can't go wrong with either or both...and thanks for giving me a chance to brag on my birds. We just love them beyond words.

 

[mamaof2wi]

We have 2 Cayugas and we love them!