What comes first, the chicken or the...duck?

[CT]

Keeping in mind that this *is* the duck forum and there may be a certain bias, I still want to ask which bird you think is easier to care for. When and if I talk my husband into it, this would be my first experience with livestock of any kind. So what do you recommend for a first-timer? I do have access to a stream, but it's waaaay at the back end of the yard--much further away than I would want to go to feed, and out of visible range due to trees. Hubby is concerned about noise levels and mess. I'm in it for a) bug control, b) eggs, c)cuteness, in that order.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

--CT

 

[slightlyscrambled]

I have both. Say chickens are easier but..... I love my duckies too.

 

[miniwhipkey]

Both will give you good pest control. The chickens will lay more eggs. But, the ducks are definitely cuter. Ducks are harder than chickens to take care of in my opinion. They both will need to be in an area that is protected from preditors.

 

[Teach97]

chickens are easier...way easier to hatch for me especially

 

[froggie71]

That's a toughie. Ducks are messier, but are really cute. Ducks have less illness than chickens. We find our chickens roam more than our ducks. Don't know if any of that helps or not.

 

[duckyfromoz]

I think that it highly depends on your set up- and how many you have- Ducks are more hardy than chickens- and although they can be messy with water- they dont scratch holes in the ground everywhere. For a fisrt timer who is open minded as to which to get I would suggest chickens first though - a nice pair of some pretty point of lay pullets - not just something that has been bred as an egg laying machine.

 

[Wifezilla]

Both will give you good pest control. The chickens will lay more eggs.

WRONG!

I will put my runner or my Welsh Harlequins up against any chicken in the egg laying department!
(Prepare to lose chicken people!)​

 

[miniwhipkey]

I hear you Wifezilla!!!!

 

[Amanda0609]

My 2 cents, I love my chickens and my duck equally. However Mr. Norman the blue swedish duck does smell worse and make a bigger mess in the brooder. And I thought my chicks smelled bad

and I am cleaning the brooder out every day. Ducks are just stinky.

 

[canada-goose]

Chickens are cleaner, ducks are more entertaining.