Quiet Ducks?

[mini_mull]

Hi there,

We've had egg layer and meat chickens for years, but we are not allowed roosters due to noise so we can't raise our own chicks. I'd love to start a flock of ducks with the intention of breeding and raising for meat. I have no experience with ducks though. I assume loudness varies with breed, so which breeds are quieter? How noisy are they compared to roosters?

Thanks,
Kristi
Pecan Grove Ranch

 

[chseeads]

Most male ducks in general are relatively quiet. Females can be pretty noisy. Not necessarily any noisier than a cackling hen as far as that goes. But they might quack more than a hen would typically cackle...lol

For quiet ducks, muscovy would be the way to go. They don't quack, they make raspy hisses and whistley noises and stuff that is not very loud generally.

They can fly though, so depending on your pen arrangements you might either need to clip wings or keep them in a covered pen.

 

[tiki244]

I believe Muskovies are the quietist duck and very friendly too. The males make no noise and the females only a very little.

 

[chickensioux]

Scovies.

 

[pringle]

Muscovies are the best sound wise (quiet),and also in my opinion best for meat.

 

[WHISTLER]

muscovies hands down for the noise level like everyone else has been saying, they noise they do make is not noticeable at all unless your right next to them.

 

[DuckLover9138]

Yes, drakes are very quiet. I would recommend Mallard drakes. You can barely hear them, they don't get as big as Pekins or other birds. They are pretty independent personalities and only calls for you when they need you to change their water.

 

[gryeyes]

Cayuga ducks. Quiet breed; they do gabble to each other, but only the females outright quack. Mine ONLY quack when they are upset about something, like having their feet stepped on by another duck or chicken, being pushed away from the feeder by another, or when bothered on the nest. They're a good sized duck for meat (not that I would ever process mine), lay nice eggs, and are beautiful.

 

[mini_mull]

Thanks so much for the info. I actually saw some muscovies for the first time in person in Hawaii just last month. I couldn't keep my eyes off them. It was a drake and his two ducks. Interesting creatures!

 

[mini_mull]

Oh, any hatcheries you would recommend?