Duck Breeds-whats your experience

[Bird_Lover_17]

Hi, I am considering raising Pekin, Call and Indian Runner Ducks. Eventually, I will raise all 3. I just want to know if any of you have any tips regarding these breeds!

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

lots of people will tell you temperament depends on the breed, but that’s not true lol. if you want friendly, cuddly ducks all you need to do is spend time with them and hold them often as babies. then they will enjoy following you around and will let you cuddle them as adults.

in my opinion, you should get indian runner because they will be the easiest for beginners. call ducks are VERY loud and you need to be able to teach them not to fly out and get lost, and they are much less hardy them other breeds because of their miniature size. pekins (i love my boy, and wouldn’t ever get rid of him) have lots of health issues because they are “meat birds”. it costs a lot to keep them healthy and to deal with all their issues. both calls and runners are amazing ducks though, just wouldn’t recommend them right away.

runners are too big too fly away and get lost, and aren’t as noisy as calls. but they are small enough that they will stay healthy more easily

 

[Bird_Lover_17]

lots of people will tell you temperament depends on the breed, but that’s not true lol. if you want friendly, cuddly ducks all you need to do is spend time with them and hold them often as babies. then they will enjoy following you around and will let you cuddle them as adults.

in my opinion, you should get indian runner because they will be the easiest for beginners. call ducks are VERY loud and you need to be able to teach them not to fly out and get lost, and they are much less hardy them other breeds because of their miniature size. pekins (i love my boy, and wouldn’t ever get rid of him) have lots of health issues because they are “meat birds”. it costs a lot to keep them healthy and to deal with all their issues. both calls and runners are amazing ducks though, just wouldn’t recommend them right away.

runners are too big too fly away and get lost, and aren’t as noisy as calls. but they are small enough that they will stay healthy more easily

Thanks for all the info! Is there a specific duck breed you recommend for beginner duck raisers (other than the 3 I initially mentioned)?

 

[Chicalina]

I've only kept runners (and mallards but they were wild and that's another story!). Runners are easy, they are flightless, lay a TON of eggs, and if you hand raise them they are as friendly as ducks ever get. And sooo comical and fun. They don't need more than a padding pool/tin bath to swim in. But do bear in mind that any duck will turn the ground to enough mud that a pig would be happy in!

 

[Chicalina]

If I had ducks again though I would buy cayugas. Because they are totally stunning with their iridescent feathers and I have a real soft spot for black shiny birds

 

[21hens-incharge]

Cayugas are a gentle breed. Mine were pretty quiet.
There are a ton of great breeds for beginners....

Blue or black Swedish, magpies, ancona, runners, appleyards, welsh harlequin also all come to mind.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Thanks for all the info! Is there a specific duck breed you recommend for beginner duck raisers (other than the 3 I initially mentioned)?

khaki campbell or rouen. both are very easy to find at most places that sell ducks, and are a good size with not many issues

 

[Bird_Lover_17]

I've only kept runners (and mallards but they were wild and that's another story!). Runners are easy, they are flightless, lay a TON of eggs, and if you hand raise them they are as friendly as ducks ever get. And sooo comical and fun. They don't need more than a padding pool/tin bath to swim in. But do bear in mind that any duck will turn the ground to enough mud that a pig would be happy in!

Thank you for your input, it's greatly appreciated!

 

[NuggetTheChicken]

Pekins are very sweet. My female is very friendly compared to the rest of my ducks. Sadly pekins have leg problems, but white layers are pretty much the same thing, but smaller and lay a lot of eggs.

 

[Bird_Lover_17]

Pekins are very sweet. My female is very friendly compared to the rest of my ducks. Sadly pekins have leg problems, but white layers are pretty much the same thing, but smaller and lay a lot of eggs.

Thanks for the info!