Quietest Mallard Derivatives

[Hallow]

Now that Metzer has posted their Spring availability, it is time for me to make the jump into ducks. I am in a very tight and quiet suburban area and will be getting 2-3 muscovy but would also like 3-4 female mallard-derivatives. Currently deciding between Silver Appleyard, Saxony, and Welsh Harlequin. Can anyone advise which of those three is the quietest. Focused on egg production over meat as I am not yet comfortable butchering, but noise-level is the most important factor.

 

[SolarDuck]

Honestly I am not sure but I would assume they are all similar as far as noise goes. Only mallard derived ducks I know of that are kind of known for being quieter are Cayuga.

 

[SolarDuck]

Muscovy are definitely a good idea, they are what I have because I am also in a neighborhood and I've never gotten any complaints because they really don't make much noise at all

 

[Critter721]

Of the breeds you listed, I only have experience with Saxony and Welsh Harlequin. I also have 2 Anconas. The Saxony is by far the quietest. I don't know if that's typical of the breed, though, or if it's just her personality.

 

[Ratchnick]

I have saxony and i had golden cascade. I got rid of the cascades because they were too noisy. I have 7 ducks on 10,000sqft corner lot.

 

[Percipen]

Our welshies are the quietest of our bunch

 

[Ratchnick]

Our welshies are the quietest of our bunch

What other breeds do you have?

 

[KaleIAm]

My welsh harlequin is so loud my neighbors can hear her from almost a mile away. She shout quacks all day. It has been non stop for nearly 6 years now. I'm sure it varies by individual duck. I've only had two WH and they were both very loud.

Someone else mentioned they had a quiet cayuga, and my cayuga was worse than my welshie.

I don't have experience with the other ducks in your poll. My pekin is also loud, but not as loud. My khaki campbells have been quieter, but I have a theory that it is because they are submissive in my flock.

 

[sjango]

Its a gamble it seems to me. I’ve worked with a number of breeds, and it seems pretty random who’s loud and who’s quiet.

I’ve had a quiet Cayuga, and a quiet Campbell, and some loud of each. My Appleyard group had 2 loud and one quiet. My Muscovy however are dead silent 95% of the time.

be careful if you have ornery neighbors.

 

[SolarDuck]

Yeah it seems like the only really safe option is the Muscovies all of the others at least have a chance of being loud. I love my muscovies, and so for both of my next door neighbors because 99% of the time they are very quiet,yrt they can still loudly honk when startled so if any were attacked by predators id be able to hear. I would say if you get any pekin derived you should at least talk to your neighbors first just to kind of see their opinions on potential loud quacking. I see someone was asking recently on the Saxony Duck Thread about the noise and a few people responded saying that theirs are quiet most of the day, so maybe look at that thread a bit.