what breed do people keep for eggs?

[Amiga]

I have runners, which I selected for their foraging ability first, then their size (about 4 pounds), their egg laying ability (varies quite a bit but we're getting four to nine eggs a day all year from nine runners), and cuteness. Seriously. I live in a suburban neighborhood with a mix of residents, some of whom look askance at anything mildly agricultural. Happily, I have a bunch of neighbors who love gardens and animals.

In any case, I reckoned that cuteness would help with the less animal loving folks. So far, so good. Oh, and giving them delicious eggs probably hasn't hurt the cause.

My runners are black and chocolate, and most have at least some snow (white feathers). Zwei looks like she's wearing a white apron!

I chose the dark colors because I think they're pretty, and different from the stereotype many have about duck appearance.

Red shouldered, red-tailed, and sharp-shinned hawks are here. They make the ducks nervous sometimes but so far no issues. But then, I keep them in a day pen with fence across the top unless I am nearby (in earshot). If I hear the hawks, I join the ducks or send them into the pen. There are many other predators around, most of them nocturnal.

 

[GrannyCarol]

I have had Khaki Campbells, Welsh Harlequin, Anconas, Magpies and a few other breeds. I loved the Welsh Harlequins, they laid great and were very sweet. My Khakis are fine, but not as pretty or as friendly. The one Magpie I had I loved and she was a great duck that laid well. I'm really taken with my Anconas at this time and headed that direction, though may try for Welsh Harlequins again. The Anconas are gorgeous, I love the variable colors, and they are very calm and easy going. They lay well too. My best layer for the last three years is a little mutt of some sort (supposedly half Khaki), she lays green eggs every day except when she went broody and when she's molting. She's a spazz though.

I've never had Runners. I think for steady egg laying and a good size for a smaller duck, I'd go with the Welsh Harlequin first. However, you have to look at 'em... get a breed that appeals!

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

I just got some WH ducklings from metzer farms for their egg laying ability. They are only 2 weeks old, but they are growing fast! I have 1 female rouen that just started laying, she laid a egg this morning (and I ate it and it was yummy!) An im hopeing she lays another one tommarow, she may and may not, but my fingers are crossed!

 

[jamband]

Quote:
while I like that methodology it would lead me back to more Muscvoy and that doesn't seem like the best egg idea

 

[DB_Tex]

I'm not only feeding eggs to a big family, Im hoping to sell a few eggs so I went with egg heavy breeds. I ordered campbells from Ideal first (they are about 2 mos) and then I ordered some welshies and layer hybrids from Metzer and those are now 1 month old. I also adopted a saxony girl and 2 magpie hens. The main thing with heavy layers, is it's vital to provide calcium supplement, or they quickly go osteoporosis on you.

 

[learycow]

I have had khaki campbells for a few years now and they are most certainly the best egg laying breed I've ever owned. They lay year-round, no matter what the temperature is (I live in Maine and it gets pretty cold in the winter!). They are very skittish though. Definitely not "people-birds". They prefer to be left alone. They seem to do very well as grazers and don't seem to eat much grain (they free-range but have grain available if they want it).
As for sky predators, I don't know if they would be able to take one. I have had large birds circle my ducks, but they always seem to be aware and run under the coop or something. I think they would be too heavy to lift for a flying bird, but I'm not entirely sure.
I also have harlequins, but they just started laying a few months ago. They have laid an egg a day each so far. I am anxious to see how they do this winter. I hope they are as productive as the campbells.
Pekins are much less timid and very pretty, but mine don't do as well in the egg laying department. They don't seem to lay year-round like the campbells. They are also much heavier, so you wouldn't have to worry about they getting taken by a flying predator.

 

[jamband]

thanks leary crow.....i really appreciate your experiences......I love the idea of the campbells on the egg side but the skittishness worries me a little. Well not worries but I have kids so I would like some ducks that wont just turn tail and hide everytime we approach.........seams the WH might be much better temperament and pretty close egg wise....or maybe the anaconas..........does anyone know who now sells the anaconas that holderread originally had? I know they sold them all off and don't do them anymore after he pretty much totally saved the breed.

Thanks all

 

[zzGypsy]

not a heritage breed, but the Golden 300 hybrids are spectacular layers, 340+ excellent, large eggs in the first year on average for me. slightly less on the second year, and year round layers (while not molting). not fancy colored ducks, but easy to keep, no health issues, and very fast to mature, good foragers, not particularly broody. had good luck with the khaki's too, and while they're not as prolific as the 300s, they're still excellent layers. I really like cayuga eggs because early in the season, they're near black, like asphalt!
we've had good luck with rouens as layers also, but they're slightly more seasonal, and we had a few broody ones. the runners lay nice eggs but they're smaller and thinner shelled.

we're not a pet-duck household, so I don't pay much attention to the skitish factor, we herd them all successfully, but my guess is the golden 300s aren't going to be docile for handling like the pekins.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

I still vote for welsh harlequins, but runners are very good foregers, and from what I have heard they lay very well. I have a rouen and she just started laying three days ago and has layed a egg every day so far. But I heard welsh harlequins are WONDERFUL layers, I thought my rouen would never lay, thats why I got the welsh. And then she srarts laying, she always makes a fool of me. Silly duck lol.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Silver Appleyards.

They lay a lot of eggs, only a few less than Khaki Campbells, and the eggs are bigger than Campbell eggs. They are very calm natured, forage well, and very quickly grow a large meaty carcass, if you happen to be interested in roast duck. They are also beautiful to look at. Feed consumption appears to be reasonable, I suspect because they don't burn any off with nervous energy.

I am hoping that the extra large size of them will discourage birds of prey, but no duck (and no goose) is really safe from birds of prey. If you want to keep poultry, it is your job to protect them, which means to house them in a manner that predators can't kill them.

The small hawks around here haven't made a try for the ducks. If the Bald Eagle down at the lake notices them, both the ducks and geese will have to be locked up. The eagle can kill something as large as an adult goose.