Ok Narrowing Down the List

[yoie]

I have my hubbys permission to get a few more ducks and I almost have them picked out.

I already have 2 Pekins and I love variety, I have 11 different breeds of chickens and only 13 chickens! SO...I know I want to get a Blue Swedish, a Cayuga, and a Rouen (hubby likes wild colored ducks). I just need to pick out one more! I can't decide between a Buff, Magpie, Runner or Khaki Campbell. Really like the look of the Snowy Mallard, just afraid it would be to flighty. Would like to see what you all would pick!

 

[TLWR]

I'd pick a runner - because I like them and they come in lots of different colors too.

 

[FenDruadin]

Where are you ordering from? I LOVE my magpies from Holderread, but magpie color is very difficult to perfect and many other breeders will provide you with a bird that looks more like a darkly colored ancona (which is also pretty, but not really magpie). The magpies always get comments from visitors, thanks to their stunning coloration, and they're great egg layers, providing a lovely creamy white egg-shaped egg (versus the runner's bullet-shaped egg). Personally, I think khaki campbells are boring and flighty, but they are good producers. Runners are great--they come in a wide variety of colors and are funny as all get-out. And great layers.

Personally, I vote for magpie if you're ordering from Holderread or another breeder with good quality birds, or runner if you're ordering anywhere else. Good luck and enjoy! I love variety too.

 

[Eroc1_1]

Welsh Harelquin ducks are kinda pretty too!

 

[yoie]

Quote:
I am ordering from Ideal, they are for pet/eggs so they don't have to look perfect. I liked the look of the Magpies too, just wasn't to sure about thier personality, are they flighty or pretty friendly? Doesn't have to loved to be picked up but at least won't run in terror from us

 

[Duckles]

Runner! We have 10 ducks and only one is a runner, he's so funny looking with them.

 

[FenDruadin]

Magpies from Ideal will be pretty, but most likely they WON'T look like the pictures you see of magpies. They'll have way more color, and in wrong places. I haven't personally ordered from Ideal, but all they have up on their site are drawings of magpies, no photos of their actual birds. I've seen photos of hatchery birds, and they almost never look anything like those drawings of magpies. So personally, I'd skip the magpies in favor of another breed. On the other hand, if you want them to just be colored and don't care much whether they look like the pictures of magpies on their site, they are a relatively calm, slow duck.

I'd skip runners if you want them to be calm. Runners are more energetic and agile than other ducks, and as a result they tend to seem more flighty. Khaki campbells, in my experience, are also less docile than other breeds.

Welsh harlequins are probably an excellent choice, and maybe buffs though I have no personal experience with them. How about a "hatchery choice" crested duck? Crests are adorable, and you could just let yourself be surprised by what kind of duck you end up with.

Good luck with whatever, I'm sure they'll be adorable.

 

[yoie]

If I could, I would order one of each, but my hubby would kill me

I was only to get 6 chickens and now we have 13 chickens, a guinea, and 2 ducks. Now I'm pushing it with getting 4 more ducks, but he really likes them more than the chickens.

 

[yoie]

Ok I have my final tally! This is going to be my order to Ideal:

1 Buff Duck (girl)
2 Cayugas (girls) my sister is taking one for a house duck
1 Crested Blue Swedish (girl) my daughters pick
1 Buff Duck (boy) really like the look of the boys
plus my 2 Pekins already at home

How is that for some variety

and maybe one Black & White Magpie (girl)

if hubby oks 5 instead of 4

 

[Serama Mama 4]

i would change directions and get a call!!!!!!!!!! theyre super friendly and lay light blue eggs!!!