Ducks that are the best pets (with poll)

[Mum]

I only have experience of IR and Campbells. The friendliest are the two I hatched.

 

[ducklover700]

I can't really say anything about ducklings being friendlier when you hatch them because I'm working on my first hatch right now! However, I do have Buffs, and I have to say that although I was expecting them to be friendly from what Metzer describes their ducklings temperments as, i was shocked! I still am. The ducklings I've raise so far have mostly been stand off-ish and a little skittish. My swede is the most friendly I've had, and my Buff are still friendlier than her. (I've had Rouens, Ancona, Swedish, and now Welsh Harlequin, and Buff.) my Welshies are pretty quiet, and content to sit on my lap while I watch TV, but my Buff demand attention. One of my favorite girls, Ella, is pretty bold; when I go to their brooder my Welsh girls, run to the opposite side, while Ella stands on the closest side to me and looks up at me to see what I'm doing. Her buddy, Rosie loves to cuddle too.

I think it really depends on where you get them, and not only the breed itself, but the individual duck too.

 

[Oregon Blues]

.............. I hear geese like petting? Cant vouch for that, though.

My geese don't like to be touched, and I have very calm natured geese who will follow me around to see what I am doing. In my opinion, petting geese and treating them like a lap dog can get you into serious problems with behavior. A spoiled gander who thinks he is higher status than the human can be dangerous. They are big enough to hurt you.

Temperament on ducks is going to depend more upon which breeder they came from and less upon what breed they are. Some breeders specifically breed for temperament and some don't.

My turkeys, on the other hand, run to me if I call them and have no objection at all to being picked up and carried. I have absolutely no idea if pampering a turkey poult will train it up to be a disrespectful monster, since these babies are the first turkeys I've ever had.

My Appleyard ducks are by far the calmest and most sociable. However, they do not like to be picked up. I had Pekins for awhile and they have great personalities and are friendly, but they don't like to be picked up, either.

 

[quackadoodledoo]

I just came across this site and so far it is just great. I have lots to read but wanted to ask a few questions in regards to pet ducks.

Do all of you really think it's best to have 2 ducks together if I live in a large apartment? I haven't acquired a duck yet, and I have a pet Dutch rabbit who's super friendly and curious. I wonder if they'd be good together or not?

Also, are there any links you guys have to where I can find good info on duck nutrition and how & what to feed him properly?

Thanks

 

[ChristineR]

If your only criteria is pet - Pekin and Ancona are my favorites. I've only had one Buff, but I did really like her, too!

 

[ChristineR]

I just came across this site and so far it is just great. I have lots to read but wanted to ask a few questions in regards to pet ducks.

Do all of you really think it's best to have 2 ducks together if I live in a large apartment? I haven't acquired a duck yet, and I have a pet Dutch rabbit who's super friendly and curious. I wonder if they'd be good together or not?

Also, are there any links you guys have to where I can find good info on duck nutrition and how & what to feed him properly?

Thanks

If you live in an apartment, I would not recommend that you get ducks at all. They really need to be able to go outside and, well, be ducks.

 

[Paton]

Indian Runner.

We have Chucky. Raised from a duckling. Beautiful creature, and amazingly fun to watch.

Extremely friendly (except when cornered by strangers)
So funny.
Enjoys being petted everwhere except the lower belly or the tail, especially enjoys his Bill being petted.
Bites me (nibbles) only when he helps me do the gardening, mainly because he thinks I am going to eat the worms and snails.
Waits out the front of our house for my kids to finish school, then chases them around the yard - SO FUNNY

They say that Ducks only interact with humans for food... If thats the case, Chucky is extremely special (moreso than we believe), or Indian Runners enjoy their families.