Quietest duck breed?

[lovesduckies]

they are pretty large. my drake doesn't fly. my female isn't toooo big though.

 

[KatGold]

What about Cayugas?

I would love a 'scovy for so many reasons, but it's a heck of a big duck for a small backyard flock. (I've had fantasies of letting loose a couple of 'scovies in a public area and setting up a secret nest box, but there are lots of reasons that is a bad idea).

Anyhow, I think I've heard that Cayugas are pretty quiet. Does that mean quiet as in my neighbors might never know I have a duck, or quiet as in "as compared to a Call"?

Thanks!

 

[Kevin565]

Your neighbors will know you have a duck. Cayugas are more calm compared to other breeds but when excited they are still very loud. If you kept all drakes it would be very quiet but any female from any breed besides Muscovies is going to produce quite a bit of noise.

 

[jdywntr]

To the OP: Muscovy can and will make some noise that is loud enough to be heard by close neighbors. They do quack, just not as often as other breeds. My 4 hens can get going with some chirps and other sounds and can be kind of loud. Even with clipped wings, muscovy can scale fences, especially if scared. If they are not legal, I would strongly urge you to have a backup plan in case you are "found out". Decide what you would do with them if animal control knocks on your door and says they need to go.

And yes, Kat Gold, releasing muscovy would be a very bad idea not to mention illegal. Believe me, I recently moved from Florida where muscovy are considered a feral species and because of that can be killed by anyone as long as it is not considered cruel. They also will breed with native ducks which result in infertile offspring. Therefore, they can decimate a native duck species.

 

[KatGold]

(Sputter! Drop! Splat!) Whoa! Just so you know, I'd never consider dumping an animal of any sort!! I would never illegally bring in an animal and think that dumping it into the environment is in any way that was the appropriate, legal, or responsible thing do.

Keeping ducks is legal here and I already keep Australian Spotted ducks. I have no legal issues, I just try to be a good neighbor. My Aussies don't produce enough eggs. I would like more duck eggs and less duck noise. That's all. I don't want to replace my Aussies, I just want to find more -quiet- eggs.

 

[Going Quackers]

My Muscovy are pretty good layers but i wouldn't call them an egg laying go to if that is a top priority.

 

[BigBlock]

I don't know if it's normal or not, but my magpie duck doesn't quack unless she's really really bothered about something. Normally she just makes sort of a squeeking sound.

 

[keyt1969]

I don't know if it's normal or not, but my magpie duck doesn't quack unless she's really really bothered about something. Normally she just makes sort of a squeeking sound.

hahaha no not normal. My magpie is the loudest out there and she's not even half of all of my other ducks out there!!

Muscovies are the best for less noise. I wouldn't suggest cayugas either I have a bunch of them. Granted, they aren't loud like Pekins (the loudest in my opinion) but they are loud!! If you don't want your neighbors to know the only ones you can go with are muscovies!

 

[Paigej]

My Cayuga is very quiet. When I was catching my ducks to give them all check ups the Cayuga was the only one who didn't sound like I was murdering her.

 

[KatGold]

I think I'm going to have to try Khaki Campbells. As best as I can tell, they either really quiet or super loud.

Okay, that just seems to be the duck standard (except for the quiet scovies and the always loud Pekins). Either they'll be loud or quiet and it's a personal thing and I won't know until they show off their personalities.

I'll see if I can find a Khaki Campbell or two and let them lay. At the very least, I should be able to count on them laying well wether loud or quiet. If they're louder than what I already have, they will be easy to rehome.

I think I've got that settled.