What Breed Of Duck Should I Get?

[Genesis1-24]

Hello! I need help deciding what breed of ducks to get! I am looking to add 4-6 ducks to my backyard this year. I have never done this before. I would like the ducks to provide a decent number of eggs for my family, eat annoying bugs like slugs in my yard, and most of all, be friendly and loving toward me and my family (which includes dogs). My ultimate purpose for keeping them would be for pets, but eggs and pest control are a plus! I have done some research but am getting mixed information. I would love breed suggestions, especially from those with experience!

Also, tips for handling and socializing ducks at the early stages to help them be more loving and calm as adults?

 

[KathiQuacks]

A duck’s version of friendliness is not the same as other animals. Ducks are small, prey animals, so they are naturally against being approached or touched, as those actions make them think you’re a predator.
They can, however, learn to come when called, follow you around, eat from your hand, hang out near you, etc.

I think I’d probably recommend Runners or Muscovy.
Runners are fantastic layers and foragers, but they may need more work to come around.
Muscovy are decent layers, fantastic foragers, and known to be extra friendly. They can fly, however, so you may want to clip their wings.

To help them be more sociable, I recommend limiting handling, only really picking up if necessary. Allow them to come to you, walk around you, climb on you, etc.
Teach them to come when called with hand feeding, and a word to associate with said feeding. I personally say “food food,” and “treat treat,” and they come running.
Hangout near them as much as you can. You don’t have to do anything, just seeing you often will help a lot.
I’ve been able to socialize all my birds this way, even a few flighty adult ducks.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

If you only want 4-6 you only want one drake. So, do not buy unsexed from a feed store like Tractor Supply. There are lots of wonderful types so go with what you like.

 

[Duckpond1245]

Indian runners are definitely a great choice because they are great layers and love foraging around. Mine are very skittish though and are also very loud. They are really fun to watch though, because the look so goofy.

I would probably recommend welsh harlequins. They are fairly good layers, very quiet compared to my Indian runners. Mine also love foraging around for bugs. Most importantly though you can make them very friendly. I got mine a few months old and they were very scared of humans but in a matter of weeks they were coming to me and eating from my hand.

 

[Callender Girl]

Runners are great foragers and are often used in orchards to keep slugs and other pests under control. Their silly gait makes them endlessly entertaining to watch. Mine will eat out of my hand (got them all as day-olds); will come when I yell, "house, house;" lay lovely, big eggs; and will absolutely, positively never want to be picked up or cuddled. So, it depends on what you want in a pet.

Another plus for me is that their little wings make them terrible flyers. I can step over a 3-foot fence that completely keeps them captive.

I second the advice about only one drake. I've had no problems with multiple drakes in the past, but the two boys I have now alternate between being buddies and having serious fights with each other. More often, especially in the spring, hormones take control, and they over breed the girls. The females bleed from the head, and last year, one nearly lost an eye.