The Buff Orpington Duck Thread

[ducks deluxe]

Howdy,

I just found this thread tonight looking for information about Buffs.  We hatched Easter Egger chicks last year and had great luck with our incubator -- 7 out of 7.  This year my wife wanted to try ducks and we liked the appearance of the buffs.  We ordered our eggs from Metzer and they shipped quickly to Florida.  We hatched two eggs out of the seven eggs placed in the incubator.  It is amazing how fast these critters grow.  Now they are 8 weeks and look full size.  At this point, I am feeding them poultry feed which they devour with relish.  Should I wean them off and let them fend for themselves or it is better to keep feeding regularly like a pet.  The ducks are certainly more friendly than the chickens.  At this age, they will still sit in my 6 year old daughter's lap and put up with petting.  It appears that we have one male and one female.  They are inseperable.  Will two ducks suffice as a "backyard" flock?  What do the eggs taste like?

John B.
Pace, Florida

 

[ducks deluxe]

 

[Miss Lydia]

@ducks deluxe Welcome to BYC!! and the wonderful world of ducks. I have 2 Buffs both females and they are just the nicest ducks great egg layers too. I love to use their eggs for baking they make everything so nice and moist. I do like the taste of duck eggs but my dh doesn't so we use our chicken eggs for eating. But I will say my dh won't give the duck eggs a chance either so can't go by him lol I think you'll like them.

2 Buffs are a nice addition to a back yard flock, the only thing I can see that maybe a problem is drakes can sometimes be really rough on their females and if you begin to notice missing feathers on her neck down to skin and open wound you may have to put one or the other in time out. Once mating begins. The best ratio is 2-4 females per drake.

Please post pics of your 2 when you have time. We'd love to see them. Oh and the girls make the cutest belly laugh [quacks]

 

[QuackSpeak]

Hello! Maybe this isn't the best thing to ask in a Buff Orpington duck thread, but I'll give it a try... I'm a once time duck owner, had two little Cayuga ducks up until six months ago. But now I'm convincing my brother and parents to get three little girls ("Convincing" is sort of strong, as theyre all fine with it and want more ducks too).

So I've narrowed the breeds down to Welsh Harlequins ad the Buff Orpington, and I can't decide!! I guess what I want to know is who's tamest, in ur opinions, but either way, we will raise the ducklings to be tame and social around us, no matter what breed we get

 

[Amiga]

@ducks deluxe - I have four Buffs (c: My philosophy on feeding is to give them the best feed I can manage as a basis, and then as the seasons change, their diet adjusts also. They can forage for worms and fresh greens more in summer, but I still make sure to provide a good layer or breeder or combination feed as a base. When they find more food on their own they eat less boughten feed. I do this because I want them healthy - less wear and tear on me physically and emotionally!!!!

In winter, I feed the base diet plus a little small dry cat kibble (protein, Vitamin D), some greens (leftover lettuce, lettuce stems, sprouted wheat) and occasional pea treats for fun (fiber mostly, but I think i little Vitamin C).

If soft eggs are a problem I add some calcium citrate tablets dissolved in water to treats (for one or two ducks) or stirred into moistened feed.

 

[Amiga]

I have found the tamest ducks to be the ones who were raised with time and patience and lots of human interaction. I have both kinds - those I have raised from hatchlings and those I have adopted (rescues). Five of my rescues are friendly (will come within 3 feet happily) but shy (don't touch). I have ducks that will stand on my feet and let me hug them. No one likes being picked up - but some ducks are lap ducks!

I have Runners, Buffs, and a few other small breeds.

 

[QuackSpeak]

Thank you

 

[Table4Six]

I'm happy to find this thread. I don't have a buff duck yet, but March 13 I go and pick up an order of metzer farm ducklings, which includes a female buff.

 

[Table4Six]

Are they typically loud?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Are they typically loud?

My 2 have their moments. Thankfully we don't have close neighbors so I don't get complaints but we don't mind their noise[quacks] at all they are so precious.