Confused in Connecticut

[Bink]

What would be a good duck for beginers? Do Cayuga lose there colors? Can Rouens Fly? Does anyone sell Cambells near Stratford C.T.? I would like Cambells but they seem only available thru Min shipping orders so I might go with runners, cayugas , or rouens from Benedicts ( Agway) in Monroe not far from my home. One web site said that Cayugas lose there color after 3 years and that rouens can fly runners and cambells are nervous Im a bit confused I only want 3 maybe 4 Hens any advice would be appreciated I dont have ducks this will be my first venture into this. Thanks Jim

 

[Amiga]

I chose runners for my re-entry into duckdom after a 40 year hiatus. I have eleven. I find the runners can get a little excited about new things, but they calm down quickly. I take time with them, spending at least 15 or 20 minutes with them when I change their bedding, about three times a day (sometimes 4 or 5). It is my investment in their personalities, because making sure they are comfortable around me has enabled me to handle them with just a little squawking and kicking, but really very minor. And as I wrote, they calm right down.

There is a bit to know to make it go well, but you should be able to find out all about it on this duck forum. Do searches on brooders and ducklings and feed, for example. Or, just post a topic about an aspect of raising the ducks, like brooders, temperature, water, and so forth.

I think runners are beautiful! Mine are chocolate and black. Benedicts offers fawn and white, another lovely coloration. The runners have great personalities, love salad and peas (there are exceptions to pea lovers in the duck world), cuddle up to me when I sit with them, and are excellent foragers and layers. Their waste is wonderful food for my gardens. They eat slugs and dandelions and chickweed. They should grow to weigh about 3.5 pounds, and stand somewhere around 2 feet tall.

They need water, water, water, good food, proper temperatures, clean bedding, water, water, and more water. Oh, and a little patience about brooder cleanup. It's just one of those chores that is never done once and for all. Before I am done cleaning, they are right behind me messing. And they are so sweet and friendly and cheerful! They have invented games to play in the brooder. They like being sung to. Or, at least they get really quiet when I sing to them. Hmmmmmm. . .

 

[duckyfromoz]

All ducks differ slightly in different ways- some are better egg layers- some prettier to look at. Which breed is best for you depends mostly on why you want to get ducks. Do you just want them for the eggs? Or purely as pets. Do you want to breed them later on or even show ducks?

Most ducks if handled carefully and often from a young age will stay tame. Breeds that are likely to fly can be penned in an area with wire or neting across the top - or one can be clipped to prevent flying.

 

[dot n'dave]

I have been staying away from Benedict's because we CANNOT get anymore ducks or chickens!!
Thanks Amiga!!

Jim, you have to get ducks! They are amazing animals....