Looking For My Dream Ducks

[LadyVictorian]

Awwwww, he's so beautiful, what breed is he?

Also I was reading up on duck gardens and they say it's best to keep smaller ducks in them, what are smaller breeds of ducks? Are there even dwarf or bantam duck breeds?

 

[chickens really]

Awwwww, he's so beautiful, what breed is he?

Also I was reading up on duck gardens and they say it's best to keep smaller ducks in them, what are smaller breeds of ducks? Are there even dwarf or bantam duck breeds?

He is a Welsh Drake.....I have Calls and Buff and Saxony also....6 Ducks in total......



Buff Hen




Saxony Hen with Black Call Hen.........

 

[lomine]

I agree with previous posters that the only sure fire way to keep the ducks out of the pond would be to put up a fence. I don't know if offering them a pond in the yard would be enough to get them to stay.

You won't really know if the ducks and chicken will get along until you try. Mine get along just fine and they weren't raised together.

The smallest domestic breeds would be Call ducks and Mallards. They are about 2.5 pounds. Calls were breed to be noisy; that may or may not be a problem for you. You aren't going to get a big egg from a small duck and neither breed will give you a lot of eggs. Maybe 80 a year with a Call if you are lucky and 60-120 for a Mallard.

Runners are defiantly an option if you are looking for color. They come in a several different colors. They are considered a light breed at about 3 to 4 pounds. They're said to be decent layers, 100-120 a year. They do have a very distinctive look.

I personally don't like the look of Muscovies. I just don't find the carnucles attractive. But, like I said, it's a personal preference. Muscovies aren't super heavy layers and are said to go broody very easily. They are suppose to be great mothers.

The reason they suggest lighter breeds as garden ducks is because they are usually better at getting the majority of their food from foraging. But that doesn't mean you have to get really small ducks. You just want to go for those breed more for eggs than meat because the meat breeds need more food to gain and maintain weight. Some breeds that are know to be great foragers are Khaki Campbell, Magpie, Ancona, Welsh Harlequin, Runners, and Swedish. Some that are good foragers are Rouen, Cayuga, and Buff. I personally think all these breeds are pretty and some are on my list of wants.

My all time favorite are Welsh Harlequin, which is what I have now. @chickens really drake is a beautiful example of a drake WH. They are also great layers at 150-200 per year. But they are a broody breed which can mess with egg production. Mine don't sit in my lap or anything but they will eat from my hand and often hang out around me when I'm in the yard. They also like to yell at me from the back door, especially when they want mealworms.

 

[LadyVictorian]

Wow, there are a LOT of beautiful breeds of ducks. I am starting to have a bit of a soft spot for the Runners, the Magpie, and the Harlequins. Now it's narrowing it down to just one breed to start with >.<

 

[hwyaden ty]

We have 3 welsh harlequin's - 1 drake and 2 ducks. I hatched them last spring. Lovely temperament, great layers, look good! I did the research and am pleased with my choice. They are great pets!

 

[DancingWthDucks]

We have 3 welsh harlequin's - 1 drake and 2 ducks. I hatched them last spring. Lovely temperament, great layers, look good! I did the research and am pleased with my choice. They are great pets!

X2! Welsh Harlequins are GORGEOUS (especially the females) and have loads of character. I would HIGHLY recommend.

Calls are cute and come in loads of colours, although they are very load and do fly (so would probably end up on your pond, and since they are so small, they would be an easy meal for snapping turtles...)

 

[learycow]

Go with anconas
They are colorful, can be very friendly if hand tamed from a young age, lay lots of eggs (can lay cream, green or grey) and are great foragers!

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

He is a Welsh Drake.....I have Calls and Buff and Saxony also....6 Ducks in total......



Buff Hen




Saxony Hen with Black Call Hen.........

I think buff and saxony are the prettiest ducks

Appleyards look nice too.

 

[LadyVictorian]

Oh wow I thought this would be easy adventure but the more ducks I see the more I can't decide which one I want. Would ducks be like chickens where you can have a mixed flock (one of each) or do they need pairs of the same breeds? I might try to go for one of each of the breed I really want >.< Narrow it down to 4 duck breeds because I keep seeing nicer and nicer looking ducks.

 

[lomine]

You can definitely get a mixed flock. If you raise them together they should have no problem bonding.