Ok, Small, quiet, friendly ducks? Do they exist?

[4hchickmama]

I like this site too. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/548042/the-miskito-mosquito-muscovy-duck

Awesome info. Thanks! I'm definitely leaning towards a muscovy now. Would you recommend getting 2, even though I have hens as well?

 

[Going Quackers]

Awesome info. Thanks! I'm definitely leaning towards a muscovy now. Would you recommend getting 2, even though I have hens as well?

I would because ducks like water and i think ducks appreciate the companionship of fellow ducks.

 

[Oregon Blues]

They aren't really ducks? Then what are they?

Muscovy are Shelducks. They are more closely related to geese than to domestic ducks. You haven't noticed how different they are from Mallard derived domestic ducks?

Yes, they are grouped and shown with the ducks.

 

[StevenW.]

To whoever said that Mandarins and Wood Ducks need permits, your half-way right but Mandarins do not needs permits because they aren't native to the United States.

Muscovy ducks are quiet, but the Drakes are HUGE! About the size of a medium-sized goose. I also heard they don't lay to many eggs as they are seasonal layers?

I personally recommend Quail. I LOVE my Coturnix quail! They are very friendly and come in a bunch of different colors! And they start laying at 6 weeks. I heard they lay about 300 eggs out of 365 days out of the year. So far they are very very quiet and hardly make any noise! Very easy to clean after and the quail chicks are oh so cute!

I have call ducks and geese. The call ducks are very loud! (But Oh so Adorable!) This morning they were just going crazy! Made my ears hurt! Then they got the geese going also. What fun! NOT!

 

[4hchickmama]

Muscovy are Shelducks. They are more closely related to geese than to domestic ducks. You haven't noticed how different they are from Mallard derived domestic ducks?

Yes, they are grouped and shown with the ducks.

Really there is no need to be condescending about it. If I knew the all answers I wouldn't be asking the question. I said before I am still learning. So they are still classed as ducks, they are called ducks, but you want to get nit picky with their technical classification? By definition, a shelduck is a duck with goose-like tendencies, not necessarily an animal that is closer related to a goose than a duck. Muscovy Ducks have also not been officially classed as shelducks although there have been talks of it. They have not moved it to the sub family Aix from Anatidae yet. They might...but does it really matter if someone is looking for a duck to add to their backyard flock what sub family it belongs to? By and large, it is a duck, classified as a duck, shown as a duck, looks like a duck, acts like a duck, so for the purposes of this conversation, pointing out that it might be more closely related to a goose, seems silly. Telling people asking about ducks to "get a rabbit," is rude and not helpful at all to the question. You seem to have a lot of experience and knowledge. Why use it to be rude? Why not just be helpful with advice?

My girls want a duck to show for 4H. My requirements was that it cannot be super loud, like the call ducks above. As a muscovy is still classified and shown as a duck...it fits the bill as it is also quieter than most others. I never said I need a silent pet, just a duck that isn't crazy loud.

 

[Ourfamilyflock]

Or quail. They are small and they chatter, but the noise is very soft. it's more like crickets chirping, so it would not bother your neighbors.

California quail are quite loud, they sound like a squeaky toy being stepped on, but to me its a fun sound, but certainly not quiet.

 

[Ourfamilyflock]

To whoever said that Mandarins and Wood Ducks need permits, your half-way right but Mandarins do not needs permits because they aren't native to the United States.

Muscovy ducks are quiet, but the Drakes are HUGE! About the size of a medium-sized goose. I also heard they don't lay to many eggs as they are seasonal layers?

I personally recommend Quail. I LOVE my Coturnix quail! They are very friendly and come in a bunch of different colors! And they start laying at 6 weeks. I heard they lay about 300 eggs out of 365 days out of the year. So far they are very very quiet and hardly make any noise! Very easy to clean after and the quail chicks are oh so cute!

I have call ducks and geese. The call ducks are very loud! (But Oh so Adorable!) This morning they were just going crazy! Made my ears hurt! Then they got the geese going also. What fun! NOT!

Ill have to check out that breed of quail, the California which are native around my area, are quite noisy.

 

[StevenW.]

California Valley quail are wild quail and are very flighty and require a permit to own because they are native to the US.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I would get 2 and if you don't want ducklings I would get 2 ducks instead of drake and duck, although my drakes are nice they are rather large. you'll still get eggs and you won't have to be explaining the facts of life to your kids every time the drake goes after the duck which will be quite often. .

 

[4hchickmama]

I would get 2 and if you don't want ducklings I would get 2 ducks instead of drake and duck, although my drakes are nice they are rather large. you'll still get eggs and you won't have to be explaining the facts of life to your kids every time the drake goes after the duck which will be quite often. .

Yeah I've heard they can be quite....amorous. I think I will probably go with two muscovy ducks. I ran into someone who raises them and has both ducklings and adults would take a drake back and trade me if we don't want one of each sex. I think the girls would like the experience of raising the ducklings, but we have a female only flock in our backyard right now.