Duck Suggestions Welcome

[threebrookscorner]

We have a brook directly behind our house and have never had any problem with ducks leaving. They free range 7 months a year until winter and are about to be fenced in until spring. I keep new ducks in the run until 3 months old so they know where home is and are big enough to safely let out. We have 3 pekin ,2 silver appleyard, and 2 rouen hens with a pair of anconas so we have plenty of eggs and enjoy all of our mixed flock.

 

[Melky]

Metzer farms has the lowest minimums to get started 2 and see link for breed comparison chart
Very helpful. https://www.metzerfarms.com/DuckBreedComparisonNew.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=27455909

Question how many people mix chickens with ducks?

 

[Anonymous Chicken]

Good to know, thank you for your time and for sharing your experiences!

 

[416bigbore]

Most domestic breeds of duck don’t fly away to migrate or anything. They may try to fly but only get 3-5 seconds of air time because they’re heavier than wild breeds. In my opinion, some of the best egg laying, most adorable friendly breeds are Pekins, Rouens, khaki Campbell’s, and Swedish.

I agree, I would also like to add that these larger heavier duck breeds have a higher number of leg issues and injuries due to their size.

Knowing what I know now and if there is a next time for more new ducklings, they will be smaller just for that reason alone.

 

[Melky]

If I acquired ducks it would be the small varieties that are not flighty. That said I love the Golden 300 Hybrid for laying purposes, the Silver Appleyard, and the Welsh Harlequin. A dream of mine but hubby not too keen on duck eggs despite told the secret bullet in baking.

 

[BigLar368]

We have 4 female Welsh Harlequins. We picked those for the egg laying and supposed friendliness of this particular breed. I can honestly say we have handled them since we received them and they are not tame in the least. They run from everyone like they are being chased by the bad guy in a horror movie. They are not extremely noisy but do make noise most of the day. They are major A-holes to all the chickens and push them around like it's nobody's business. They even assault each other in their pond by mounting one another and pushing the other completely under water for a pretty good bit of time. They make mud holes out of thin air in any rain storm. They can fly fairly well when they want to but I doubt they will ever try to fly away. They have yet to lay an egg and I am starting to wonder if all the extra provisions I put in for them is worth the hassle.

 

[MarshyRooster]

Blue Swedish are great- as anxious as any duck, but they seem pretty hardy. Mine love to dunk their bills into a bucket of water, which seems to substitute for a river for them but much safer.

 

[CHlCKEN]

I personally recommend Pekins, I’ve only ever kept two other breeds, but out the three they are my favorite. Friendly, docile, and sweet.

 

[CoriM]

I have pekins and welsh harlequins and I do love my pekins the best, but my husband says never again. Because they're such heavy birds they have issues with their legs sometimes, and might be more prone to bumblefoot. They need extra niacin when they're babies because their bodies just grow so fast and they could develop splay leg or pigeon toe. They are sweet and have wonderful personalities. I adore my pekins, but I might choose white layers if I was going for a second round, because they are about half the size yet similar in appearance and personality, from what I've heard. Also, my pekins eat and poop about 3 times that of my welsh harlequins, who are also beautiful and sweet birds. There are so many amazing duck breeds to choose from. Have fun!

 

[Corbdee]

I personally recommend Pekins, I’ve only ever kept two other breeds, but out the three they are my favorite. Friendly, docile, and sweet.

True, but almost every Pekin I've ever kept or hatched have had serious or even fatal health problems. They are typically raised as a meat bird because of their heftiness. They tend to have joint issues and niacin deficiencies as I've seen. But yes, they are definitely a very friendly and adorable breed with huge, heartwarming personalities. It makes it so much sadder when you lose them.