dual purpose ducks

[BrothersBirds]

Does anybody have any clue what breed of duck is the best dual purpose duck? Hoping to go to only 3 or 4 breeds of duck but don't know what breed to go to.
Wondering whether anybody has any information. Any would be great.

The photos are of 2020 hatched ducks.

 

[Ratchnick]

Most ducks can be dual purpose but you asked for the best, so here goes.

Pekins are usually breed for meat, SOME strains lay quite a few eggs. They are a popular duck but i would not own one because it seems like two thirds of the ducks on this forum with a leg problem are pekins. They get it as ducklings with niacin requirements they again when they are bigger sliped tendon or other similar injury is common. In my opinion calling a pekin dual purpose is like calling a cornish cross a dual purpose.

Sorry to dissapoint some of you but welsh harliquin is also out, they lay lots of eggs but they are a light breed, so your looking at a 2-3 pound bird dressed.

#1 Silver appleyard
The most eggs out of a heavy class duck, good strains will lay over 225 a year.

#2 Ancona
The most eggs out of a medium class duck, over 250 i think. These ducks are first pick for homesteaders as they have better survival instincts agaienst winged predators, and are eccelent foragers, or so i have read. * Bonous you can tell your ducks apart becsuse of their unique coloring. **Double bonous, if you get a chocolate drake and black hens you can sex by down color as ducklings.

#3 Saxony
Slightly heavier then the appleyard and slightly less eggs, meat is prized by gourmet chefs.

You cant go wrong with any of these 3. But get the best genetics you can, results can vary a LOT (think 100 egg a year difference) within a breed.

Honorable mention

Golden Cascade
Few people know about this breed and that's a shame. A medium class duck, supreme layer, over 300 a year, the drakes are substantially bigger then the hens, the one i have is bigger then some of my Saxony. This breed was designed as the ultimate dual purpose breed. Only available from Holderreads, and probably not for much longer. Dave Holderread is probably the best duck breeder on the continent. *Bonous, if you cross a golden cascade drake with a hen from most other breeds you can sex the ducklings by down color.

 

[BrothersBirds]

Most ducks can be dual purpose but you asked for the best, so here goes.

Pekins are usually breed for meat, SOME strains lay quite a few eggs. They are a popular duck but i would not own one because it seems like two thirds of the ducks on this forum with a leg problem are pekins. They get it as ducklings with niacin requirements they again when they are bigger sliped tendon or other similar injury is common. In my opinion calling a pekin dual purpose is like calling a Cornish cross a dual purpose.

Sorry to disappoint some of you but welsh harlequin is also out, they lay lots of eggs but they are a light breed, so your looking at a 2-3 pound bird dressed.

#1 Silver Appleyard
The most eggs out of a heavy class duck, good strains will lay over 225 a year.

#2 Ancona
The most eggs out of a medium class duck, over 250 i think. These ducks are first pick for homesteaders as they have better survival instincts against winged predators, and are excellent foragers, or so I have read. * Bonus you can tell your ducks apart because of their unique coloring. **Double bonus, if you get a chocolate drake and black hens you can sex by down color as ducklings.

#3 Saxony
Slightly heavier then the Appleyard and slightly less eggs, meat is prized by gourmet chefs.

You cant go wrong with any of these 3. But get the best genetics you can, results can vary a LOT (think 100 egg a year difference) within a breed.

Honorable mention

Golden Cascade
Few people know about this breed and that's a shame. A medium class duck, supreme layer, over 300 a year, the drakes are substantially bigger then the hens, the one i have is bigger then some of my Saxony. This breed was designed as the ultimate dual purpose breed. Only available from Holderread's, and probably not for much longer. Dave Holderread is probably the best duck breeder on the continent. *Bonus, if you cross a golden cascade drake with a hen from most other breeds you can sex the ducklings by down color.

thank you Ratchnick I think I will be going with Muscovy, Pekin, Silver Appleyard and Golden Cascade. But if you want to keep posting suggestions that would be great

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I would consider Welsh Harlequin or Silver Appleyards.

 

[rebeccaH86]

I do believe muscovys are a good dual purpose duck... I myself have never ate one though .

 

[Quatie]

Only down side about pekin is they have a lot of leg issues you don't find as much in the other large breeds. You may want to consider the other two large breed ducks, Saxony and appleyards. Saxony are slow growers though, but supposedly taste good, but not as good egg layers. Don't know very much about appleyards, but I have heard they are good layers.

 

[Weeg]

What purposes do you want them for? Assuming egg laying and meat? Or meat, pets, eggs, breeding/selling, etc.?
Pekin ducks are great for dual purpose. They are large and great for meat, and lay 200-300 large eggs a year. They also make good pets, and are very sweet.

 

[BrothersBirds]

I would like them for meat and eggs. Kind of for pets, but mainly eggs and meat.
I know I will be keeping muscovys. I have heard good things about pekins and harlequins.

 

[Weeg]

I would like them for meat and eggs. kind of for pets but mainly eggs and meat.
i know i will be keeping muscovys. i have heard good things about pekins and harlequins.

Pekin's were bred for meat and egg production, that is what I would go with. There also one of the bigger breeds, Jumbo Pekin's, so that is helpful for meat.

 

[BrothersBirds]

I do believe muscovys are a good dual purpose duck... I myself have never ate one though .

Muscovy's are great ducks. They lay large rich eggs (and possibly the heaviest and thickest eggs). They are very hardy and they gain weight at a reasonable pace. They are very tasty.
Yes! Muscovys really are great!!!