Welsh Harlequin

[Muse7]

General laying Welsh Harlequins shouldn't run you more than about $10 a duckling.
I got mine, second generation Holderread for $5, and she is a great little layer.
I paid $7 a piece, I think from Metzer for my other two Welsh Harlequin hen and they are
also great layers. Only one of the three has markings, size, and stance to show.
But I got them for laying not for showing.

But the other person who posted, is correct a high quality show WH will run you some
money, $150 seems high, unless you getting the bird directly from Holderread.

Best,

Liz

 

[learycow]

I had posted this in a thread by itself, but maybe y'all could let me know what you think?

I just bought a female Welsh Harlequin today. I don't know much about ducks, but the seller said they are worth $150. But when I did some research when I got home, I'm finding out they aren't all that expensive. I only paid $15 for my female, but I'm curious if anyone else has heard of this price?

Here are two ads to show why I'm confused

http://easttexas.craigslist.org/grd/4195054938.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/grd/4195182154.html

Agreed. Holderreads sell their TOP show quality WH for $50-100 per bird. But it's easy for someone to breed them and then sell the offspring as such even though they may not be (you can get good and bad quality ducklings from top quality parents). And the pic in the ad looks like it's not of their own birds. So that would make me suspicious to begin with.

You can find them fairly easy though availability may depend on the time of the year. And prices may vary depending on your location.
Hatcheries usually sell them for $7-11 each depending on if you want them sexed or not. And you usually have minimum number you have to buy. But you can sometimes find them for $5 or so on craigslist.
Adults will range from $5 up to $30-40 each. Again, it depends on quality and supply/demand.

 

[northernlivie]

Jasper is so very pretty!
We would like to get two or three Welsh Harlequin ducklings this spring. Can someone tell me of a local breeder? Our local supplier of chicks and ducklings doesn't offer them.

Do you live in Canada?

 

[hokankai]

Jasper is so very pretty!
We would like to get two or three Welsh Harlequin ducklings this spring. Can someone tell me of a local breeder? Our local supplier of chicks and ducklings doesn't offer them.

Where are you located? I'm in SW WA and will be selling ducklings next year

 

[IridescentPals]

Do you live in Canada?

No, but I've vacationed in Canada twice in my life and loved it : )

Where are you located? I'm in SW WA and will be selling ducklings next year

We live in Clackamas County, Oregon, so maybe a road trip to SW Washington would be in order : ) Is there a way to send private messages?

 

[OrpObsessed]

Agreed. Holderreads sell their TOP show quality WH for $50-100 per bird. But it's easy for someone to breed them and then sell the offspring as such even though they may not be (you can get good and bad quality ducklings from top quality parents). And the pic in the ad looks like it's not of their own birds. So that would make me suspicious to begin with.

You can find them fairly easy though availability may depend on the time of the year. And prices may vary depending on your location.
Hatcheries usually sell them for $7-11 each depending on if you want them sexed or not. And you usually have minimum number you have to buy. But you can sometimes find them for $5 or so on craigslist.
Adults will range from $5 up to $30-40 each. Again, it depends on quality and supply/demand.

Hmm, he said there is a guy in Dallas that sells them for $150 a piece, and from what I understood that's what he was basing his price off of. He didn't say anything about them being show quality birds, though they may be...he just said they were an endangered species.

 

[OrpObsessed]

General laying Welsh Harlequins shouldn't run you more than about $10 a duckling.
I got mine, second generation Holderread for $5, and she is a great little layer.
I paid $7 a piece, I think from Metzer for my other two Welsh Harlequin hen and they are
also great layers.  Only one of the three has markings, size, and stance to show.
But I got them for laying not for showing.

But the other person who posted, is correct a high quality show WH will run you some
money, $150 seems high, unless you getting the bird directly from Holderread.

Best,

Liz

Here's a pic of Jemima...it was cloudy outside when I took the pic.

 

[learycow]

Hmm, he said there is a guy in Dallas that sells them for $150 a piece, and from what I understood that's what he was basing his price off of. He didn't say anything about them being show quality birds, though they may be...he just said they were an endangered species.

I hope you didn't pay that price for them!
And WH are not an endangered species. It sounds like someone who is trying to scam people. Not everyone does the research before purchasing so it's sad that people like him will price them that way, tell people they are endangered, and have people fall for it thinking they bought a "rare" bird. Show quality WH are more scarce than breeder or pet quality WH, but even still, they aren't usually worth $150 each.

A lot of duck breeds say they are "critical" or "endangered", such as Cayugas and Anconas. I would disagree with these statuses as you can buy these breeds (cayugas are easier to find than Anconas) from just about any hatchery. And they are fairly cheap.
However, it is hard to find flocks and offspring that are strict to the standard of the breed. I would say that there are some breeds out there that are considered "critical" as the breeding flocks of really good quality for those breeds is hard to come by. But I find it wrong how people will sell their eggs on eBay or on here and say that their Cayugas are "rare and hard to find, critical breed so help keep the breed going" especially when a lot of those people are simply rebreeding hatchery birds and selling the eggs and offspring. So they are not actually helping to preserve the true breed.

And to get back on topic, I have never seen WH listed as a rare breed or endangered. So it seems like that seller made that up in hopes of drawing attention to his ad

 

[OrpObsessed]

I hope you didn't pay that price for them!
And WH are not an endangered species. It sounds like someone who is trying to scam people. Not everyone does the research before purchasing so it's sad that people like him will price them that way, tell people they are endangered, and have people fall for it thinking they bought a "rare" bird. Show quality WH are more scarce than breeder or pet quality WH, but even still, they aren't usually worth $150 each.

A lot of duck breeds say they are "critical" or "endangered", such as Cayugas and Anconas. I would disagree with these statuses as you can buy these breeds (cayugas are easier to find than Anconas) from just about any hatchery. And they are fairly cheap. 
However, it is hard to find flocks and offspring that are strict to the standard of the breed. I would say that there are some breeds out there that are considered "critical" as the breeding flocks of really good quality for those breeds is hard to come by. But I find it wrong how people will sell their eggs on eBay or on here and say that their Cayugas are "rare and hard to find, critical breed so help keep the breed going" especially when a lot of those people are simply rebreeding hatchery birds and selling the eggs and offspring. So they are not actually helping to preserve the true breed.

And to get back on topic, I have never seen WH listed as a rare breed or endangered. So it seems like that seller made that up in hopes of drawing attention to his ad

I thought of that, but I hope he was just misinformed. There's no way I would pay that much money for a duck...or even a chicken. I could get a whole goat for that price! Lol I paid $15

 

[northernlivie]

No, but I've vacationed in Canada twice in my life and loved it : )

We live in Clackamas County, Oregon, so maybe a road trip to SW Washington would be in order : ) Is there a way to send private messages?

Yes! Canada is very pretty, glad to hear you enjoyed your trips!

I just pre-ordered 3 WH ducklings for spring 2014 and they were $15 a piece.

I hope you get a better contact than the guy selling for $150!

I am so excited to get my new duckies in spring!