Magpie Ducks

[taras.farm]

I'LL LOOK FOR SOME OF MY BLUES AND POST THEM HERE SOON. aS FOR THE MANDARINES....i'LL LOOK FOR A THREAD ON THEM OR START ONE UP IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.lOVE SHARING PICTURES.
THOSE THIRTY ONE BABIES WILL KEEP YA BUSY.Watching them move across a lucious leafy green field is even more wonderful...They are busy and great foragers!

 

[jessa2723]

@Taras.farm.....we've been interested in finding a blue Maggie! We went to the local fair the other day as they have lots of livestock, but no duckies this year :-(

 

[GAIL328]

Need to rehome a few magpie drakes. Have too many. They are three months old.

 

[rescueacres]

We've decided to add a duck layer/meat component to our pastured based farm operation. After much research we settled on Magpie as a good dual purpose breed. I like the idea of a ~5 lb bird with high quality meat but also an excellent egg layer. The perk is their beautiful plumage and seemingly mellow personalities. We found few breeders in the PNW (actually none) and wanted to help maintain this fantastic breed. While breeding show quality birds is not the primary purpose of our operation we are going to do our best to produce birds with the typical magpie pattern. The key from reading seems to selecting dark drakes as sires so I'll be sure to hold on to those when we cull the males from the flock each year. I'm looking forward to the experience and appreciate all the exuberant press that magpies have been given on BYC. Here are a few pics of our new arrivals. Wow! Check out those feet. All 31 of them!

We raise runners but have one magpie duck that became the flock leader even though she is younger than the runners. I would love to get another couple ducks and a drake.

 

[rescueacres]

Here is our magpie duck with her runners.

 

[Featheredfan]

Our little flock is now 5 weeks old. We are in love with the Magpies. We feel responsible for finding good homes for the Males. How do you find breeders?

 

[Lynzi777]

New Magpie Owner here!
Got my first two magpies this morning, they were supposed to be male/female but it turns out they're two drakes by their quacks. I'm sure one will eventually have to go because this will be my third drake. I wanted one of each for this breed so I could hatch eggs in the spring. Here they are...

 

[Westguy]

Lynzi,I'

Very nice magpies. The black male has good station and type. Sounds like you purchased them from a reputable breeder.

Chris

 

[Lynzi777]

Lynzi,I'

Very nice magpies. The black male has good station and type. Sounds like you purchased them from a reputable breeder.

Chris

Ha! Hardly! Maybe the guy I got him from did, but this guy was telling me that the female was a female and male was a male by using an old wives tale type of method. LOL

 

[Westguy]

In any event, you have good birds to start with.

chris