Sell Me On A Duck Breed

[BantyChooks]

As for the LF breeds, I'd vote for Welsh Harlequins. They are docile, good layers, personable, and beautiful. I had a trio years ago that was the light of my life. Unfortunately, their time was cut short by a mink, but while it lasted, I adored them.

 

[Mimi13]

I don't think you could go wrong with runners. They are fun and sweet and you just cannot help but smile at their silliness!

I first was eyeballing a runner, but several things I’ve read had me concerned about nervousness. Are they funny and sweet, but nervous?

 

[Mimi13]

I wonder, could you just clip their wings?

Well, I guess I could.

 

[Mimi13]

They are great for eggs, but they are not great pets. They are flighty or atleast mine are.

Your response leans more toward what I’ve read about runners. If I were to have more than four, possibly a runner would fit, but I really need just a few that will be good for pets.

 

[Isaac 0]

Initially I had voted against a flier, simply because we have two big ponds in our front pasture with visiting ducks, geese, and egrets. I don’t want them fraternizing and potentially flying away.

However, a flying duck could potentially evade a ground predator. But I do plan on keeping them penned, with cover, so a flying duck could potentially be a PITA for me when trying to catch it in the pen, right?

They are incredibly and irresistibly cute so I will put it on my short list.

Thank you for replying.

My calls are free-ranged, So I do lose one every year to predators, but that's usually a given with most duck breeds. Call ducks wing can be clipped, but if left to free-range they will be very prone to predators. They are extremely good duck's to have around kids too.

 

[Mimi13]

I'll second Calls. In my limited experience, they're not too hard to keep grounded by clipping their wings, & they don't seem too motivated to get out of pens. I have 4.5' fencing that I haven't had issues with. They are a lot less messy than their larger counterparts, quite cute, and make good pets. The bird in my avatar is a Snowy Call drake. Plus, did I mention how stinkin' cute they are?

How many types of call ducks are there?

 

[Isaac 0]

My Runner's were very nice and did not fit the Shy/Weary stereotype that has become associated with the breed.

 

[BantyChooks]

How many types of call ducks are there?

Colours? Oh boy, I don't know. A lot.

 

[Mimi13]

I think Peking ducks would be best for your needs. They are cute, not super skittish, they don't lay too many eggs, they are not very broody and the ducklings are adorable.

And the “not very broody” has peaked my interest. I have several broody hens and I’m not necessarily keen on broody breaking ducks too.

 

[Isaac 0]

The most common Call duck colors are probably

Snowy, Chocolate, White, Grey, Blue fawn, Butterscotch, Magpie,Penciled, Blue Bibbed, Pastel, Black Bibbed and Much more.