What duck breed should I raise? Call duck or Muscovy duck?

[olijo123]

I want to start a breeding pen and I don't know if I should breed call ducks or Muscovy ducks. I have Muscovy but I have never had call ducks. I am leaning more towards the Muscovy ducks though. What is your favorite?

 

[sourland]

What do you want to accomplish with your ducks? Your end goals should define your choice.

 

[olijo123]

What do you want to accomplish with your ducks? Your end goals should define your choice.

I don't really gave much of a goal I guess. I want ducks with good color and I would like to be able to sell hatching eggs and babies.

 

[WildWestChick]

It all depends on preference, do you want a big quiet duck, or a small very noisy duck? Lol

 

[longwinter]

I don't think my calls are very noisy. But we did used to have 30 guinea hens so ya.

 

[Going Quackers]

I have both and breed both, truly depends on what your after.. Muscovy are dual purpose(yes, i know some eat calls but really generally speaking they are not for that ) anyways, i can let the scovies free range and they are very good at pest control, actually documented for it.

Calls are wonderful pets, 4H projects, exhibition etc BUT noisy, i have several females you bang those up against the "noise" of a scovie flock it's night and day. Calls can be more tricky to breed, they have issues with their small stature but so far i have done okay.

I don't free range my calls but do have them on the ground... again my calls are my pets, my scovies are my pest control.

 

[olijo123]

I have both and breed both, truly depends on what your after.. Muscovy are dual purpose(yes, i know some eat calls but really generally speaking they are not for that ) anyways, i can let the scovies free range and they are very good at pest control, actually documented for it.

Calls are wonderful pets, 4H projects, exhibition etc BUT noisy, i have several females you bang those up against the "noise" of a scovie flock it's night and day. Calls can be more tricky to breed, they have issues with their small stature but so far i have done okay.

I don't free range my calls but do have them on the ground... again my calls are my pets, my scovies are my pest control.

I want a duck that will take in less feed. But I also want a duck with a nice personality. So I have no idea what I want!

 

[olijo123]

It all depends on preference, do you want a big quiet duck, or a small very noisy duck? Lol

It would be nice if there was a small quiet duck! lol But I don't want them drawing the foxes in.

 

[WildWestChick]

My scovies hardly eat any grain/feed at all....they prefer to find their own. They are very proficient at ridding your yard or property of any bug they can find. The only bugs mine won't eat are stink bugs, but they WILL eat black widow spiders...which is awesome cause here in fall time I find about 6-10 black widows a day!

As far as personality goes my scovies are very nice, they will come up to me..especially if I have treats lol (the great motivator!) and most of them will let me pet them, but picking them up is a big no no unless you have to. They hate it, and remember how I told you about their claws...they really know how to use them!

 

[Going Quackers]

Calls being bantams will eat less, period. My Muscovy given their sizes don't eat much BUT they free range and can supplement their diets well here for *most* of the year that said come winter? they eat, and a fair bit. The breeds are real opposite extremes being banty and large also 'scovies are not mallard derived and more geese, they are good personalities for the most part, i don't have pet ones, but if need be can handle all of them here.

Scovies are tremendously broody though and that can get old fast ... they also fly and well, though most drakes by maturity don't, the claws are something else.. and those are there from quite young, seen wee ones climb a gate before

Calls both sexes can fly and very well, they also adore water.. mine float and dive like no tomorrow, being small are also easily handled.

Neither are a 'bad' choice, clearly i have a fondness for both as i have both lol but IMO serve different purposes. GL deciding!