Heritage Breeds

[harbisgirl]

Just chiming in here as you mention a heritage breed and muscovys, however the Scovy aren't a heritage breed.
Khaki Campbell's forage well, lay well
Silver Appleyards lay well for a large breed, and like to stick close to home
Good quality Rouens are hard to come by
Friendly is based on personal concept really. I think ours are friendly because they come when called. They don't however want to be touched or picked up. We can if we need to check them out, but it's not something they really enjoy.
The more ducks you have the more bonded to each other they will be.

The Silver Appleyards are intriguing - i'll have to look into that further. I'd like them to at least come when called. I understand not being touched or picked up ....but it sure would be nice

 

[zooweemama]

I have a got a couple of several breeds. For entertainment and pet personality qualities- I love the Pekin. I know to some they are boring white but they have gigantic personalities. I am not sure if they are considered a heritage breed or not though.

The Welsh Harlequins are also one of my favorites- they are fairly calm, quietly chatty (but the girls do make happy quacks!) but not quite as chatty as the Pekins, they are dropdead gorgeous (in my opinion), small and compact, are good layers, good moms and I really enjoy them. The male Welshies are really handsome (reminds me a bit like mallards).

I have some Buffs- I could take them or leave them personally but I love mine because they are mine but I won't be getting more of them.

I love love the Runners. Not good meat birds at all, but good layers, fun to watch, really lovely to look at (I personally enjoy their tall upright stature) and mine are extremely calm. I know they are often described as nervous but ours are the most calm ducks in our flock. They stand and stare, usually the first to eat from our hand- so our experience with is not the 'norm' I often read described.

I do not have any of the other ducks like Appleyards (I would love to) but I personally really really realllly like looking at my Welshies. They are lovely colors and patterning on their feathers. I can only comment on what I know and compare to what you are asking- so I would have to say Welsh Harlequins.

Happy researching!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

If you don't plan to breed don't bother with a drake. Go with two or three ducks and enjoy the eggs and none of the drakes breeding drama (because if you have a drake there will be breeding)

 

[jdywntr]

If you don't plan to breed don't bother with a drake. Go with two or three ducks and enjoy the eggs and none of the drakes breeding drama (because if you have a drake there will be breeding)

X 2

 

[harbisgirl]

Wow, great review - Thank you zooweemama What about their water/pond needs? I won't have a large pond to provide. I don't want to get a bird who needs a large pond and be unhappy.

I was wondering about getting a drake or not. I am happy getting females but it seems most people have them in pairs and assumed there was a reason for that - I thought she would be safer with a drake to protect her and they'd be happier with a mate. I was simply going to take the eggs and not let them hatch out. Bad idea?

 

[zooweemama]

I agree. If you do not want to breed- go for an all guy or all gal flock. Way less drama. If you want to enjoy some eggs- get all ladies. Just about any breed will lay decently for you. I find males to be very calm, pretty quiet...but no eggs. Girls seem to be much louder, they talk to each other a lot, they announce everything lol...and the egg bonus is very nice!

My ducks for 10 weeks only had a kiddie pool. They were absolutely thrilled. Not even a big pool- the baby pools! We do have a small pond so we of course released them on it (i do mean small lol) but had we not had them- the kiddie pools were more than sufficient. A twice daily dump and refill kept them happy. I often did it more often, and others will only do it once a day. Up to you. All my breeds loved their turn in the pools.

 

[zooweemama]

I think if you click on my profile you can access my pics? Not sure how that works. But I have duck pics nestled in there. You can see pics of some of my ducks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/album/view/id/6200047/user_id/136267 Ah-ha! Here you go!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Most people have males because they like the idea of hatching, others get males because they buy straight run ducks, then some think you need a male for eggs. They are happy with more of their own kind. So all ducks and all drakes are happy flocks. Avoid more drakes than ducks, it's bad for the ducks.

Most of the time drakes are more colorful than ducks, so that is also at times a reason people keep the boys around. Our silver appleyard ducks are just as pretty as the drakes. The Khaki ducks are a stunning chocolate/khaki color.

I am forever updating our farms website, with photos and info, feel free to look around at the pictures.

Good luck on your search, no matter what breed you pick it will be the one that appeals to you, or is best for your location and needs.

 

[ChristineR]

I'm contemplating the idea of getting a few ducks. I'd like a Heritage breed. Does anybody have any suggestions? They would be pets. Temperament is critical as they will be pets. And while eggs are a big perk they are not a requirement. It’d be nice if they were pretty J They'll all have their own pens but be let out to forage and congregate in a (fenced) area of about an acre of mostly wooded area but with a sunny area of meadow/field. Climate is pretty hot in the summer – upper 90’s in the summer and snows a few times during the winter.

As far as Heritage breeds go, I can only offer my experience with Anconas, Swedish and Welsh Harlequins. My Swedish and WH aren't very skittish at all, but I'm not a big fan of the Swedish personalities. In general, the Anconas are a little more skittish than the WH & Swedish. However, the sweetest duck I've ever had is one of my Anconas. I like both the Anconas and WH. I think they are both pretty.

As for breeds, I've only had cayugas and welsh harlequins. I have to say, welsh harlequins are kinda skittish. I have only had boys btw. My welshie jumps away when I try to pet him, but he'll still come up and nibble on my hand and clothes, so he's fine. Also takes food from my hands xD. Basically he trusts me but doesn't want me to touch him. My cayuga (i've had two in the past and one now) is perfect. He lets me pet him, comes running to me, sits on my lap, talks to me whenever he hears my voice, and the last cayugas were similar. I've had a great expirience with cayugas. So I reccomend Cayugas. I personally think they're gorgeous, they're black but around 4 months get a beautiful green shimmer throughout their body. I also hear Pekins and Rouens are good, but Pekins are best for pets. Haven't tried out that theory though.

In my experience, most ducks really don't like to be petted. They might tolerate it, but it's not really something they seek out. It sounds like you have a rare exception in your Cayuga. I think it probably has a lot to do with how you raised him.

If you aren't planning on breeding, why only a heritage breed?

This is a list from ALBC's website. Level of threat to breed goes down from left to right.
Ancona

Aylesbury

Magpie

Saxony

Silver Appleyard

Welsh Harlequin Buff or Orpington

Cayuga Campbell

Rouen

Runner or Indian Runner

Swedish

Pretty much any breed will be friendly if you spend ALOT of time with it when they are small. If they are going to be more free range, you need to get a breed that can forage well and take care of itself to a degree. I would suggest a bit more research to find something that truly appeals to you and your wants.

Even if you're not going to breed, you are still supporting the rarer Heritage breeds by buying them. Hopefully, the more demand there is for them, the more available they will become.

Another piece of advice - I would buy from a good breeder rather than a hatchery if you're worried about temperament. Find one that doesn't breed aggressive drakes.

AND...I have to agree about the Pekins. With the exception of my one Ancona drake who is a total sweetheart, Pekins are my favorite as pets. They are just very comical, personable ducks.

If you're not interested in breeding, though, you can get a mixed flock of a few breeds!

 

[ChickInDelight]

My best advice is to make sure you have plenty of ducks and not too many drakes. I have 2 ducks that have nearly lost eyes. I don't think the feathers will ever grow back on my one duck.

(The drake / duck ratio has been an ongoing battle for me.)