runner ducks

[muddipuppy]

Noise is definitely a factor where I live so I most likely would want drakes. Ideally, I would like to hatch my own. Are they hard to hatch? What is the hatch rate like with shipped eggs?

 

[FenDruadin]

My understanding is that shipped eggs are a crap shoot--maybe they'll be fine, maybe the won't, and your hatch rate will be relatively low. If you can find local eggs, that would be best--I would try craigslist. Runners are becoming more common, so there is probably someone with a small flock that would be glad to sell you a dozen or so. When they hatch, you can raise them to about four-five weeks when you should be able to sex them easily, and then sell the females back to the breeder or on craigslist--females should sell pretty well.

Good luck!

 

[AHappychick]

my best shipped egg hatch rate was with runner eggs 14 eggs 11 hatched. It was December and cold out. I have found them to be much heartier in travel than chicken eggs but that may just be me. I also had 2 very high temp spkikes with that batch as I was still using my LG still air incubator and could never keep it steady. Even my own chicken eggs fresh and fertile from my flock did not hatch as good with that bator.

Thats just my opinion but I really do think they are heartier maybe its because they get so roughed up in nature by the messy and wet ducks.

Gosh I wish you were closer I have a few extra drakes all get along all very nice, just too many to keep.

I sure can send eggs easily enough if you choose to buy some.

I ordered ducklings from Mt Healthy Hatchery (I am pretty sure it was them anyway) and they sexed the ducks for me

most hatcheries would probably be overjoyed to sell just drakes as i am sure like with chickens people want mostly girls.

 

[AHappychick]

Quote:
oh yes the females would sell easily I would think. raigs list is a good idea

 

[Wifezilla]

noisy/quiet? Mine is quiet
personality? Afraid of her own shadow
eggs? Huge and delicious

 

[GrannySue]

Quote:
I had 2 males for a few months until 1 went to dinner with a racoon. Definitely quiet. Fun to watch.
Now I have 5 girls and 3 boys and they're quite noisy. The girls, I mean.
Definitely noisy. Just as much fun to watch if not moreso.
The problem with runner ducks is that once you've had them for a while, other ducks look deformed!

 

[neferset]

Quote:
You tempt me mightly. I'm up in the Smoky Mountains in NC, though.

 

[eggybritches]

I got seven eggs in the mail and all seven are developing normally.

I'm not counting my ducks before they hatch, but everything is good so far.

 

[swheat]

Mine are quiet(I hardly hear anything out of them), good layers and easily spooked. I love 'em though, they stand at attention all the time...LOL

 

[rainplace]

Quote:
Oh my, isn't that the truth. Other ducks are just so... stumpy and waddley and... and DEFORMED!