What Breed Should I Get?

[SolarDuck]

Oh, thank you! I am all over this comparison chart!

I'm getting 2, I think, to start. I'll probably order them so I can get just girls. Hubby isn't as enamored as I am, but he felt the same way about the chickens at first, but he adores them now.

This is perfect! Thank you! I'll let you know what I decide. Perkins are in the lead atm.

If I got more, do you think I could get more than 1 breed??? My chickens are very mixed flock, and I've really enjoyed having all the different personalities together.

Just something to keep in mind about Pekins is if you are getting them as pets, they can be prone to certain health issues because of their very large size. You could absolutely get more than 1 breed!

 

[SolarDuck]

Oh, I do love Muscovies! I love their look, too! Hmmm.... So many options.... Imma have to decide soon....

Here's a little vid of a couple of my muscovy girls

 

[Aunt Angus]

My only adult experience with ducks (we had Mallards when I was a kid) is with runners, and I adore them! They are, as you said, incredibly cute, especially when they take off across the yard with that distinctive gait. And, I love the sound of their voices, even though I think the girls sound like they are laughing at me!

A 2-foot wire garden fence keeps mine confined. I had one -- once -- who could remain airborne for 4 or 5 seconds, but Claire was the only runner who ever showed any inclination toward flight. A fairly busy paved road goes past my property, and I don't have a problem with ducks trying to become road kill.

Initially, the breeder where I got them didn't sex the day-old ducklings, and I chose four -- of which three turned out to be drakes! Breeder is now pretty darned good at sexing babies, and all four of my most recent girls really turned out to be girls.

How friendly do you want your ducks to be? Mine recognize me as the giver of food and will crawl on top of me when I'm trying to fill a food dish. They will follow me across the yard when I yell, "duck, duck, house, house," a signal that dinner is about to be served. They will run up to me when I'm outdoors just in case food could be involved.

Quinn, the original female, will crawl into my lap to get to food (are you sensing a theme here?) and will gladly and awkwardly climb the steps to the back door checking for -- you guessed it -- food.

None of mine have ever liked to be picked up or held. But, if I sit still on the ground, they will climb on me, and nine of the current 10 will gladly eat from my hand.

Good luck on whatever breed you choose; I'm sure other breeds are just as wonderful, but I dare not find out because then I would want even more birds!

See now I'm leaning towards Runners again. Lol!

They don't need to be super friendly. My chickens are chickens. I adore them, and some are very friendly when they feel like it, but most just want to be chickens and do their chicken thing. I have dogs for the love!

I think this duck thing is going to be another addiction. We just moved to a bigger place (from the suburbs to 3 acres in the foothills). I'm also getting goats and llamas because I CAN. But ducks have been a dream, really, since I was a little kid. I used to volunteer on a ranch when I was very young. The ducks were my favorites! The sheep, not so much. Lol!

I have a feeling this venture will go the way of my chicken venture. I thought a little flock of 4 was fine. I'm up to 10 and headed to 20 soon.

I have a problem. Do they have a Farm Animals Anonymous 12 step? I think I might need help!

 

[Callender Girl]

Hmmm. I have a little more than 3 acres and started with four chickens. Let me tell you how this played out for me: 19 hens, one rooster, 10 runner ducks, two American Buff geese -- plus two Katahdin sheep and -- currently -- only four miniature goats. Plus, five house cats and a rescue dog.

If you find that Farm Animals Anonymous group, please let me know

 

[Aunt Angus]

Oh - I have a bird vet for my chickens, but very good to know about Pekins.

So here's what I want:

• Runners
• Muscovies
• Pekins
• Swedish
• Appleyards
• Cayuga
• Harlequins

Seriously.
Kid in a candy store here.
I want them ALL.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hmmm. I have a little more than 3 acres and started with four chickens. Let me tell you how this played out for me: 19 hens, one rooster, 10 runner ducks, two American Buff geese -- plus two Katahdin sheep and -- currently -- only four miniature goats. Plus, five house cats and a rescue dog.

If you find that Farm Animals Anonymous group, please let me know

I have 3 cats, 2 dogs, 10 chickens.
Getting 3 goats and 2 llamas in March/april.
Getting 4 more chickens in April.
Getting ducks in April. I was thinking 2 ducks, but now thinking 4.

I have never ever ever been so happy with life! I feel like I'm dreaming some days. My little farm = Heaven on earth. I am so blessed! Sounds cheesy, but it's true.

 

[SolarDuck]

Seriously.
Kid in a candy store here.
I want them ALL.

Hahaha I would too if I had the land for it!!! Might as well throw call ducks on that list they are tiny and ADORABLE!

 

[HKG]

I have 3 cats, 2 dogs, 10 chickens.
Getting 3 goats and 2 llamas in March/april.
Getting 4 more chickens in April.
Getting ducks in April. I was thinking 2 ducks, but now thinking 4.

I have never ever ever been so happy with life! I feel like I'm dreaming some days. My little farm = Heaven on earth. I am so blessed! Sounds cheesy, but it's true.

Wow! I love goats❤❤❤❤ what kind are you getting????

 

[HKG]

Hi!

I have ALWAYS wanted ducks. I LOVE ducks. I plan to get a few this spring now that I have a lot more room. I have a small flock of chickens (getting more of those, too, come spring). These ducks will be pets more than anything, but I do like duck eggs!

Now that I am finally getting them, I am like a kid in a candy store! I don't know what kind to get! I adore Runners, but Cayuga are gorgeous. And Pekin are adorable. And my hubby likes Swedish. And Appleyards seem fantastic. Ahhhhhh!


I would prefer ducks who don't fly. They will be in a fenced area (about 1/4 acre in area) shared with my chickens, but they'll have their own wing of the chicken house (pardon the pun).

Advice? I'm leaning towards Runners for cuteness, but I've heard they can be really standoffish. I don't need them to be my best friends, but I need to be able to handle them to care for them.

TIA!

(I'm so excited!!!!)

Are you getting males or females? Also are you going to have a pool for them? I had a deep pool for my two male pekin ducks and it was horrible the pekins would chase the hens into the pool and try to breed them but drowned multiple chicken hens. I got rid of them

 

[LT71689]

Oh, thank you! I am all over this comparison chart!

I'm getting 2, I think, to start. I'll probably order them so I can get just girls. Hubby isn't as enamored as I am, but he felt the same way about the chickens at first, but he adores them now.

This is perfect! Thank you! I'll let you know what I decide. Perkins are in the lead atm.

If I got more, do you think I could get more than 1 breed??? My chickens are very mixed flock, and I've really enjoyed having all the different personalities together.

mixed flocks are fine with two caveats

- if you ever DO decide you want a drake (or wind up like so many who say they never will until they happen upon someone who's trying to get rid of theirs and you dont want him to get eaten so you adopt him) I probably wouldn't want something like a jumbo pekin male for a flock of little call or runner hens that he can bully and hurt. Most other breeds are pretty similar in size and could handle a drake of any breed, and/or a flock of all females will be okay (they'll probably still "mate" each other but they don't tend to be as rough as drakes and of course real mating isn't happening)

- muscovies are different from the other domestic breeds, you can mix them up with other ducks but if you have any you'll want at least two because they don't "speak the same language" as the other breeds and it wouldn't be kind to have just one duck who couldnt communicate with any of the others. A lot of folks who keep muscovies and others find that the scovies just sort of tolerate the others and otherwise keep to themselves. They're docile enough, but since they can't communicate they don't bother to mingle and bond like the others will.