Wanting to add Ducks, help me pick!

[KittyKat8828]

I suggest Cayuga, Buff, and Pekin. Cayugas are very beautiful, quiet, and small but they are a bit more nervous compared to other breeds. Buff ducks are good all around but look like they they were splattered with mud. Pekins love their people and are very friendly but they are a bit loud, if you live in a populated area these might get noise complaints during the day.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Hi everyone! A few years back we had Muscovy, but are wanting to try “regular” ducks that don’t fly. I have been doing research, but having trouble picking a breed! Also, not sure how many to start out with? Below are a few traits we are looking for, any breed recommendations would be great!

-Friendly and Calm. Our kids help a lot so this is really important.
-More interested in eggs than meat, but would like dual purpose.
-Would prefer a quieter breed if possible.
-Non-flying.
-Heritage breed would be a plus!

I really like the looks of Appleyards and Magpies, but there are sooooo many choices!!! Any help would be appreciated!

Following

 

[Animal family]

I love my Swedish drake and duck. They are medium sized, don’t fly, and very friendly. They are said to be very cold hardy and I’ve found that to be true although I bring them in the house to cuddle sometimes. Oh and they’re super cute too!

 

[Rubysword]

From my research, Welsh Harlequins are some of the best egg-laying ducks out there. They are also very friendly and calm.

 

[MillersFarm]

I would either suggest Rouens, Cayugas, Welshes, or buffs,

My Rouens are probably the heaviest (Besides my pekins) ducks I have, They are some-what loud but nowhere near as loud as my pekins and calls, My Rouens are also very friendly and I haven't had any foot problems with them so far,
For my Welshes I would have to say they are equally as friendly as my Rouens and buffs, They have beautiful colors and amazing personalities, They are also pretty easy to sex as day olds. Welshes are also known for being great brooders/mothers and are amazing layers.. My welshes are slight bigger than my Khakis but aren't as big as my Rouens or buffs or Cayugas, My Buffs would have to be my friendliest ducks I have at the moment, They love to be held and petted and follow you all over the place, Their egg production isn't as good as the khaki or welsh but is still a pretty good layer, The are also amazing mothers/brooders like the welshes, My Cayugas are my quietest ducks and are slightly bigger than my buffs, Though they are not known for going broody I've heard of them going broody and successfully hatching/raising clutches. They're pretty friendly as well but aren't as friendly as my welshes, rouens, and buffs, They'll follow you and eat out of your hand but that's basically it, Their egg production is about the same as my buffs and lay some pretty cool dark gray eggs. Though pekins are very friendly I wouldn't suggest getting any since they tend to have many problems with their feet/legs and their weight, They are also a very loud breed.

 

[lomine]

If you aren't going to get a drake why do you want dual purpose? Are you just thinking for the future you might want to breed and butcher?

I also like a mixed flock with both my chickens and ducks. I currently have WH and Cayuga. I've got an order in to get more WH and Saxony this spring. I hope to get some gold phase WH hens.

I adore my Welshie girls. When they are laying they lay well, but so far they haven't laid during winter. They take a long break after molting. They are quiet except for when they greet me in the morning. My Cayuga aren't old enough to lay yet. They aren't as friendly and are very loud. I hope they will settle after they start laying, like my WHs did. I just culled two Cayuga drakes because I didn't want any males of that breed. They don't make for a pretty carcass so I wouldn't pick them for a dual purpose flock.

I say get a couple of each breed you want, if you have the room. Or get a couple types now and in a few years get a couple of different breeds. If you aren't breeding to sell pure ducklings, get whatever you want.

 

[LoverOfPeeps]

Another idea is to look at Metzer Farm's duck comparison chart from their site. It shows which carry the traits that you are looking for: good layers, good mothers, flying ability, meat birds, personalities... It was key to making my selection. Hope this helps!

 

[TheBucktownBrood]

If you aren't going to get a drake why do you want dual purpose? Are you just thinking for the future you might want to breed and butcher?

I also like a mixed flock with both my chickens and ducks. I currently have WH and Cayuga. I've got an order in to get more WH and Saxony this spring. I hope to get some gold phase WH hens.

I adore my Welshie girls. When they are laying they lay well, but so far they haven't laid during winter. They take a long break after molting. They are quiet except for when they greet me in the morning. My Cayuga aren't old enough to lay yet. They aren't as friendly and are very loud. I hope they will settle after they start laying, like my WHs did. I just culled two Cayuga drakes because I didn't want any males of that breed. They don't make for a pretty carcass so I wouldn't pick them for a dual purpose flock.

I say get a couple of each breed you want, if you have the room. Or get a couple types now and in a few years get a couple of different breeds. If you aren't breeding to sell pure ducklings, get whatever you want.

If I do get a drake, I would like to raise them and have the choice to butcher some. That is why I was asking about a dual purpose and possibly a heritage breed. I wouldn’t want to breed if it were a mixed flock. Just trying to weigh out our options

 

[lomine]

You can still breed if you get a mixed flock. If you plan to sell ducklings you won't be able to charge as much for mixed breed and you might have a hard time selling. However, if you plan to just raise for your own meat you won't have to worry about that.

 

[MagpieDucks]

Another breed I highly suggest are Saxonies! Very pretty, but can be loud at times.