what breed of ducks for herd dog schooling?

[BeardedChick]

My friend wants to train her border collie with ducks, so twist my arm, I'll keep a few ducks for her (she has trained herd dogs with sheep, and I know she will handle the ducks humanely).

What breed of ducks are best? Anyone have personal experience to share? I have read Khakis and runners are good choices?

At what age can ducks start being worked?

ETA: AND how many do I need to start with?????

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

I knew a lady who kept 5 runner x ducks for her shelties to learn on...seemed to work well.

 

[BeardedChick]

Thanks - I just found an online video and they used 5 ducks, too.

 

[vicki2x2]

For herding they usually use runners ducks, they move quickly but dont try to fly.

 

[BeardedChick]

It doesn't hurt that I love runner ducks! Or do I love Khakis more?

Yarg, I don't know!!!

 

[eggchel]

You love Runners more, of course!

This one thinks she's a goose, a Sebastopol goose no less. Talk about delusional. LOL

chel

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I don't have experience with it personally, but everytime I've seen pictures or videos of duck herding, they have been runner or runner crosses.

If it were me, I would use runners.

As for the age, I think the ducks should be fully feathered and have a good weight to them. You don't want fragile ducklings running from a dog, or on the chance that the dog takes a nip a fully grown duck will be better off.

Sounds like fun though! You should share pictures!

The Sebbie runner is adoreable!!

Talk about the ugly duckling! ^-^ Instead of a swan who thinks it's a duck, this duck thinks it's a goose!

-Kim

 

[BeardedChick]

Oooh, I like the sebbies, too!!!! The runners look like such comedians.

At what age will they be fully feathered? And how the heck can you tell if a runner duck is at a good weight??? They all look Twiggy-ish to me.

You know Miss New Camera (that would be me) will take lots of pictures.

Just for warmup, a wild duck picture from today (taken from a great distance):

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Runners

 

[BeardedChick]

Runners it is!

I might sneak in a Welsh Harlequin or three just because...