Welsh Harlequin VS. Buff. (From Metzer)

[ducklover700]

My Maggie May at 5 weeks old.
No complaints about her. She is from Metzers. I think they Runners look really good too. I have Runners from Ideal and they look like squat mut ducks. But the ones from Metzers look great. Not like Holderreads but we are pleased. We have another WH named Snickers and she has a bit of a white mask on her face.

She's beautiful. I've seen some of your pictures of your buffs on another thread actually. Very nice flock! Thanks for you input on how noisy the buffs are too. My neighbors haven't complained at all, but they're closer so I know they hear my Swedish every morning. She's a chatter.

 

[ducklover700]

I have no experience with Buffs but there was a wide variation in my WH's. I think it is possible you could end up with some nice looking, correct to standard ducks in either breed. Even the premium hatcheries/breeders have ducklings of different qualities. The only way to know would be to keep them till they were all feathered out, I'd think. My WH's had a lot of color changes as they grew older . . . I think though that you want to sell the ducklings, so you wouldn't want to keep the extras that long.

Buff ducks probably don't have the gold and silver phases that the WH's have, so they might be a better choice just because of that. I'd keep what you like the best!

I have my WH"s for eggs, so I don't care much how correct to standard they are, as they are doing a great job laying.

I've had them sexed, so that makes it a little easier. Females for sure, for me.

I'm thinking that I'll keep the sexed girls for awhile and sell the straight run...once I have an idea of how they'll look, and if they fit in with my other ducks nicely then I'll choose who stays, and who goes. Thank you for your help.

 

[larkflying]

You are welcome!