What breeds should I get?

[ChickForLife]

I have been interested in chickens for awhile now and wanted to get into ducks! I was wondering what some good duck breeds are in my criteria.

I want...

• A few ducks for egg production.
• The rest for looks.
• Small and big.
• Not too loud.
• Very colorful.
• Not too expensive.
• At least a few friendly.

 

[SolarDuck]

The only duck you can get that will be a guaranteed not too loud are Muscovy. All mallard-derived breeds can get quite noisy. Out of the mallard-derived breeds i have heard that Cayuga and Saxony tend to be the quieter ones. How many ducks are you planning on getting total? If you want both small and big ducks you could get some call ducks they are very small and come in just about any color you could think of! Some breeds that are very good for egg production aren Welsh Harlequin, Khaki Campbell, and runner ducks. There are all kinds of duck breeds so its gonna be hard to choose. If the "not too loud" thing is super important than you should only get Muscovy. Make sure regardless of which breed you get you only get 1 male per 3-4 females!

 

[MGG]

I have been interested in chickens for awhile now and wanted to get into ducks! I was wondering what some good duck breeds are in my criteria.

I want...

• A few ducks for egg production.
• The rest for looks.
• Small and big.
• Not too loud.
• Very colorful.
• Not too expensive.
• At least a few friendly.

Welsh Harlequins, and some type of exotic! Lol! Wood ducks aren't too expensive if you find someone local-ish who has them.

 

[Corbdee]

I have been interested in chickens for awhile now and wanted to get into ducks! I was wondering what some good duck breeds are in my criteria.

I want...

• A few ducks for egg production.
• The rest for looks.
• Small and big.
• Not too loud.
• Very colorful.
• Not too expensive.
• At least a few friendly.

Yessss I’m your guy lol

 

[ChickForLife]

The only duck you can get that will be a guaranteed not too loud are Muscovy. All mallard-derived breeds can get quite noisy. Out of the mallard-derived breeds i have heard that Cayuga and Saxony tend to be the quieter ones. How many ducks are you planning on getting total? If you want both small and big ducks you could get some call ducks they are very small and come in just about any color you could think of! Some breeds that are very good for egg production aren Welsh Harlequin, Khaki Campbell, and runner ducks. There are all kinds of duck breeds so its gonna be hard to choose. If the "not too loud" thing is super important than you should only get Muscovy. Make sure regardless of which breed you get you only get 1 male per 3-4 females!

Thanks! I don't want birds that can fly because I have a small property so muscovys would be out unless I clipped their wings. Maybe a flock of 3-7 ducks!

 

[ChickForLife]

Welsh Harlequins, and some type of exotic! Lol! Wood ducks aren't too expensive if you find someone local-ish who has them.

Thanks! Aren't exotic bird very expensive though? Wood ducks are beautiful! I will look!

 

[Corbdee]

I have been interested in chickens for awhile now and wanted to get into ducks! I was wondering what some good duck breeds are in my criteria.

I want...

• A few ducks for egg production.
• The rest for looks.
• Small and big.
• Not too loud.
• Very colorful.
• Not too expensive.
• At least a few friendly.

Khaki Campbell’s lay the most eggs by far, jumbo Pekins are huge but they have health problems 99% of the time because they are big, mallards, Rouens, Cayugas, khaki Campbell’s, Pekins, welsh harlequins, Swedish and pretty much every duck is friendly, welsh harlequins and mallards are beautiful IMO, Swedish are very good layers as well, ummmm oh yeah and ducks with crests are absolutely gorgeous but their crests make them extremely sensitive to anything that will pull it

 

[MGG]

Thanks! Aren't exotic bird very expensive though? Wood ducks are beautiful! I will look!

Woodies aren't usually. Mine were $25 each. And you can clip their wings.

 

[Corbdee]

Khaki Campbell’s lay the most eggs by far, jumbo Pekins are huge but they have health problems 99% of the time because they are big, mallards, Rouens, Cayugas, khaki Campbell’s, Pekins, welsh harlequins, Swedish and pretty much every duck is friendly, welsh harlequins and mallards are beautiful IMO, Swedish are very good layers as well, ummmm oh yeah and ducks with crests are absolutely gorgeous but their crests make them extremely sensitive to anything that will pull it

Oh yeah and Muscovys are always the quietest, calmest ducks and they’re one of the only ones that are almost sure to go broody. IMO the only reason I don’t like them is bc they’re not the absolute prettiest in the world.

 

[ChickForLife]

Oh yeah and Muscovys are always the quietest, calmest ducks and they’re one of the only ones that are almost sure to go broody. IMO the only reason I don’t like them is bc they’re not the absolute prettiest in the world.

What is IMO?