Ok so I am getting two ducklings from Metzer farms in a few months and I have a few questions. I would like to get 2 Pekin ducks, but we live in a neighborhood, so would they be too loud? ( We would be getting 2 females for egg laying). I was also wondering if I could mix breeds, Would a runner duck, and a pekin be good together??? Or WH??? I have had no experience with ducks, so what's the best breed that is social, good as a family pet, and not too loud? Thanks!
Okay, first thing first: you cannot make a duck a pet. You can make them very social, though. Pekins are social and friendly, but if you want two females AND quiet, Pekins are out the window! And if you want egg laying breeds, Indian Runners are a good choice, but sometimes very loud. Quiet and social, definitely Muscovies, they're the lap dog of the duck family. Cayugas are pretty quiet, but they don't lay as much as other breeds and the eggs aren't usually white. You can mix just about any breeds with each other. But with only two, can you spend enough time with them? And, do you have enough room?
Saxonies are also very quiet. You are right you cannot make them pets. They will come and beg for food, but they are not in for coming up and wanting a pet. For that you will have to work with them daily from day one on. Even then they may not want it, or they mature and then it can be forget about it. Also think about the mess they make. Not only eating, but digging up the yard, eating plants, and producing poo anytime everywhere. They cannot control when to poo so it comes whenever. So ducks are not made for living as a pet in the house, but I guess you know that one.
Well it is true that they cannot be pets, but they can be very social like everyone has said, but they can come inside because some people have designed duck diapers so that their mess would be contained...if it were me i wouldnt want that because you have to change it every 4 hours If i were you i would highly consider WH because mine are pretty quite and i live in the city too. they are only loud when they are hungry, not let out early enough, or something unusual is happening. They are very good layers, accept mine havent started laying yet. They can lay 200-350 eggs per year form what Ive read and they are very attractive, not saying the other ducks aren't, its i prefer their looks!! They are very friendly although mine don't like me picking them up or getting near them, but once they are in my arms they are the sweetest things! Good luck on finding your dream ducks!
If you are ordering from Metzers and want ducks for eggs as well as pets I would go with the Golden 300's. Mine are not very noisy at all. I got my first egg from one of them at 17 weeks. My favorite and friendliest duck is one of my Golden's. Close up they really have a pretty feather pattern.
