Should i hatch duck eggs or chicken eggs?

[Floof]

No because all the time that they will be there i'm am gonna be there too...

If you want to keep any kind of animal then you need to have a plan to take care of it for the duration of its life or until you rehome it. Chickens or ducks cannot be kept loose in a backyard through a Canadian winter. They will need a draft free home and appropriate food.
Now in terms of which animal is easier to take care of I would say chickens. I enjoy my ducks but they make more mess, eat more food, lay fewer eggs, and refuse cuddles. My chickens literally come RUNNING when they see me because they like me. My ducks just quack LOUDLY to announce that they see me and would like more food. I cannot emphasize the word loudly enough here, they can be heard from the end of our block over 900 feet away.

If you choose to incubate and hatch birds, what is your plan for the resulting males? In chickens or ducks you will end up with unwanted males. Will you eat them or accept that someone else will eat them? Not every male hatched gets to live a long life on a farm. Most are food.

 

[Willow2253]

Please please please do your research before you commit to getting any poultry. Whatever you get will require a lot of work. You have to properly feed, house, and clean up after them, and be able to tend to any injuries, diseases, or other needs they’ll have. You’ll need a coop to house and shelter them, and a run to protect them when they’re outside, they can’t just be locked in all day with occasional trips to see daylight. Cleaning up after them will be a regular chore. If you’re hatching, you’ll have to do something with extra males for both ducks and chickens. Getting new animals, especially ones that you haven’t kept before, is not something to be taken lightly. Know what you’re getting yourself into before you do it.

 

[JaeG]

From what I have read Call Ducks are difficult to incubate and hatch successfully. They also need to be penned in a covered pen as they can and will fly away.

Whichever bird you decide on you need to have their long term housing already set up and ready to go because baby birds grow very fast and are very messy, not to mention smelly in the confines of your house. What starts out as cute quickly turns into a lot of work while they are still in their brooder.

Shipped eggs are more difficult to hatch. If they have a rough trip to you then none may hatch. You'll have much more success if you can find someone local that you can get hatching eggs from. Also make sure you have an independent calibrated thermometer and hygrometer as the one on your incubator is likely not accurate enough for a successful hatch.

 

[Raptorix234]

You don’t have to get a male also have you had chickens or ducks before?!

Nope no bird whatsoever

 

[Raptorix234]

It will be a bit of work you know?

also how much land where you thinking of giving them and how many animals and also how much land do you have?

No animals and the size of our yard

 

[Willawong Hill]

Can you give us a rough idea on the size of your yard? Perhaps step it out. I haven't had ducks in a long time, I think chickens are probably easier.

 

[Tilhana]

I know I'm repeating what others have already said, but before you buy eggs you need to get some supplies. Hatching and brooding chickens or ducks requires an indoor brooder, unless you want to wait until after the last frost day so you can get them outside. Even then, you need an incubator, a shelter, heater, feeders and waterers, and bedding for when they're too small to go outdoors. Also you'll need some kind of fencing to keep predators out and probably a covered run, at least for when they're little. Even if you're in a residential area with few predators, baby birds will be easy targets for raccoons, crows, rats, just about anything that eats meat. Adult chickens or ducks may be ok in a fenced in back yard during the day if predator pressure is limited, but they still need a shelter for night time to keep them warm and dry and safe from predators at night. Also you need to have a plan for the males. Eggs don't come pre-sexed. You've got to either eat them or sell them, and realize that they won't sell for much and will likely get eaten. I'm not sure about ducks but you can't have a functional chicken flock with a 1:1 female to male ratio. Chickens should be more like 8:1 or 10:1.

That said, I would strongly advise against getting eggs off ebay. As JaeG said, shipped eggs tend to have very poor hatch rates. I've heard best case scenario is around 50%, and that's if the shipper actually knows what they're doing. Often they all arrive damaged and hatch rate is closer to 0%. There's a lot of people on eBay that don't really care and will sell anything with no guarantees just to get your money. Try to find someone local. I hate facebook but it IS very useful for finding local hatching eggs or birds. Craigslist sometimes has options, too, but really facebook is unfortunately the place to go if you want a lot of local options.

As for chickens vs ducks, I've only had chickens, although I really want to get ducks someday. But I'm waiting until we move to a property with a water source. I would NOT do ducks without a water source, unless you want to be out refilling a kiddie pool with fresh water every day, and hauling water out in winter when the hose line freezes. Also, if you're in a densely populated residential area, your neighbors will likely not appreciate the noise. Just some things to consider.

 

[natyvidal]

Suggestion. First plan on the type of coop. Then hatch eggs.

 

[natyvidal]

I know I'm repeating what others have already said, but before you buy eggs you need to get some supplies. Hatching and brooding chickens or ducks requires an indoor brooder, unless you want to wait until after the last frost day so you can get them outside. Even then, you need an incubator, a shelter, heater, feeders and waterers, and bedding for when they're too small to go outdoors. Also you'll need some kind of fencing to keep predators out and probably a covered run, at least for when they're little. Even if you're in a residential area with few predators, baby birds will be easy targets for raccoons, crows, rats, just about anything that eats meat. Adult chickens or ducks may be ok in a fenced in back yard during the day if predator pressure is limited, but they still need a shelter for night time to keep them warm and dry and safe from predators at night. Also you need to have a plan for the males. Eggs don't come pre-sexed. You've got to either eat them or sell them, and realize that they won't sell for much and will likely get eaten. I'm not sure about ducks but you can't have a functional chicken flock with a 1:1 female to male ratio. Chickens should be more like 8:1 or 10:1.

That said, I would strongly advise against getting eggs off ebay. As JaeG said, shipped eggs tend to have very poor hatch rates. I've heard best case scenario is around 50%, and that's if the shipper actually knows what they're doing. Often they all arrive damaged and hatch rate is closer to 0%. There's a lot of people on eBay that don't really care and will sell anything with no guarantees just to get your money. Try to find someone local. I hate facebook but it IS very useful for finding local hatching eggs or birds. Craigslist sometimes has options, too, but really facebook is unfortunately the place to go if you want a lot of local options.

As for chickens vs ducks, I've only had chickens, although I really want to get ducks someday. But I'm waiting until we move to a property with a water source. I would NOT do ducks without a water source, unless you want to be out refilling a kiddie pool with fresh water every day, and hauling water out in winter when the hose line freezes. Also, if you're in a densely populated residential area, your neighbors will likely not appreciate the noise. Just some things to consider.

I know I'm repeating what others have already said, but before you buy eggs you need to get some supplies. Hatching and brooding chickens or ducks requires an indoor brooder, unless you want to wait until after the last frost day so you can get them outside. Even then, you need an incubator, a shelter, heater, feeders and waterers, and bedding for when they're too small to go outdoors. Also you'll need some kind of fencing to keep predators out and probably a covered run, at least for when they're little. Even if you're in a residential area with few predators, baby birds will be easy targets for raccoons, crows, rats, just about anything that eats meat. Adult chickens or ducks may be ok in a fenced in back yard during the day if predator pressure is limited, but they still need a shelter for night time to keep them warm and dry and safe from predators at night. Also you need to have a plan for the males. Eggs don't come pre-sexed. You've got to either eat them or sell them, and realize that they won't sell for much and will likely get eaten. I'm not sure about ducks but you can't have a functional chicken flock with a 1:1 female to male ratio. Chickens should be more like 8:1 or 10:1.

That said, I would strongly advise against getting eggs off ebay. As JaeG said, shipped eggs tend to have very poor hatch rates. I've heard best case scenario is around 50%, and that's if the shipper actually knows what they're doing. Often they all arrive damaged and hatch rate is closer to 0%. There's a lot of people on eBay that don't really care and will sell anything with no guarantees just to get your money. Try to find someone local. I hate facebook but it IS very useful for finding local hatching eggs or birds. Craigslist sometimes has options, too, but really facebook is unfortunately the place to go if you want a lot of local options.

As for chickens vs ducks, I've only had chickens, although I really want to get ducks someday. But I'm waiting until we move to a property with a water source. I would NOT do ducks without a water source, unless you want to be out refilling a kiddie pool with fresh water every day, and hauling water out in winter when the hose line freezes. Also, if you're in a densely populated residential area, your neighbors will likely not appreciate the noise. Just some things to consider.

Tilhana is correct! First put energy on what your flock will need to be safe and thrive; then hatch eggs accordingly. It’s heart breaking to loose members of your flock either to predators, or increments of weather. Plan ahead. Good luck!

 

[NaperLix]

Animals are not play things to amuse you.Grow up before you expose an animal to a short abusive life with no house or proper care.Thats what should be said.