Hardiest Ducks for Michigan weather?

[Foresthome]

THANK YOU so much for the advice everyone! Because of this, my husband has agreed to let me choose 6 different ducks for the 5 boys and myself, and a dozen Golden 300s. We have ample room for 30 ducks in the shed we modified. I convinced him this would be the only way they could truly tell them apart! LOL I do want to compare them and show him that a mixed flock isn't so bad. We will be ordering next week but not shipping until July. I chose a Black Swedish, a Blue Swedish, and he wants a Welsh Harlequin, a Buff, and a Cayuga. He is on the fence about the last one, the Silver Appleyard but he says there isn't enough info about them to put his mind at ease. He is worried it will eat us out of house and home and not forage as readily as the others. He feels the Saxony would as well.

 

[IndianaGreg]

I do not mean to be a bad guy here but I have a question. What kind of ducks would be good to raise for meat and also eggs producing? Thanks and sorry to spoil your mood.

 

[PirateGirl]

I do not mean to be a bad guy here but I have a question. What kind of ducks would be good to raise for meat and also eggs producing? Thanks and sorry to spoil your mood.

On Metzers website they have a really good duck breed comparison chart.

 

[Foresthome]

I do not mean to be a bad guy here but I have a question. What kind of ducks would be good to raise for meat and also eggs producing? Thanks and sorry to spoil your mood.

Oh, no problem! We are getting Golden 300s for supposedly top egg production, but Metzer has a White Layer as well. We love white ducks but feel they would be more prone to hawk attacks in the yard/woods where we live. I couldn't eat a duck! just me lol....but my friend raised male Pekins for meat.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

Pekins are pretty much the standard for raising ducks for meat when your trying to make a profit. However there are very viable alternative heritage breeds that will also serve your family well if your just raising some homegrown food for the family.

 

[Puppykisss]

We have 2 Khaki Campbells and one Rouen. We also live in Michigan. Our Khaki Campbells are great! I am also new to ducks. My girls just turned 1 year old this month. They are very friendly and will come waddling when I call. Of course, I always have Cheerios or peas for them as a treat. I can reach down and pick them up. Our Rouen is more cautious. We supply no heat in the winter and, as you know, it can get below 0 in Michigan. They are very hardy and healthy. They lay eggs every day! The Duck house has hay in it but we leave the door open so they can go in and out as they like. They free range with our chickens when we are home. At night and when we are not home, they have their own pen with a little pond that we dug for them. They don't seem to have a problem with the snow. When it gets really cold, in the single digits, their feet must get cold so they will lay down on them. I plan to get a couple more ducks this spring. I will get a different breed only because I like having a variety of breeds. I do the same with my chickens.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

So did you get your new ducklings yet?