new to ducks

[bagendhens]

well yeah...i guess. ive been around ducks, i knwo how to care for them...but ive never had my own...
and i live to plan ahead...wont be getting them untill probably next spring...

but im planning on having a little mixed homestead.

duckies will primarily be egg layers, but hardey forgarers are always good and potential to butcher for yummies would be great.
i have a soft spot for khakis, cayugas and runners...

now im hoping to house my ducks in what will also be a combination sheep feild (babydoll southdowns) and small orchard...would they be ok with the sheep, and do any of those 3 breeds need wings clipped to keep them home?

and how many, i was thinking 6 runners (5f 1 m) and then 2-3 khakis and the same again for cayugas...
im assuming if kept together in the same feild they could all technically interbreed, would it be better to keep the runners in with the sheep and the cayugas and khakis in other feilds?. im hoping to keep the runners pure as their eggs will be some for eating and some for hatching...
what about the khakis and cayugas...would a khaki x cayuga make a good meat duck? (i dont like pekins and dont eat duck often...but for a once in a while)

 

[the duck whisperer]

If your not really worried about parisites ( i wouldnt be too worried) then yes you can house them with sheep. Khakies and runners are awsome layers and cayahugas arent bad either. I wouldnt worry about clipping wings for cayahugas of khakies but runners might fly, not sure. And of course they will interbreed so if you want purebreds then youll have to seperate. Even if you mixed the khakies and cayahugas they would make bad meat ducks since the khakies are a thin breed. But that doesnt mean you cant eat them if your not big on duck meat. If you want meats and dont like pekins id suggest rouens, scovies or saxonys. hope i helped.

 

[bagendhens]

thats very helpfull, i was more worried about housing them with the sheep than anything else...

i think im going to have a flock of runners for egg production and a small flock of cayugas for eggs/meat/pleasure. i figure i should get enough eggs form the runners to no tneed the khakis for backup lol.
i love some of the colors the runners come in...
and i like the idea of being able to use the feathers off the cayugas i do butcher for crafting...the white pekin feathers are great if your going to dye them, but i LOVE that bottle green shimmer of the cayugas.

woot looks like im adding some ducks to the list, whats the drake to duck ratio, i do want good fertility for replenishing the flock and selling babies/hatching eggs despite planning on eating some of those yummy eggs.

 

[satay]

Runners don't fly.That sounds like a good idea keeping them in seperate fields for purity.