What duck should I get?

[Pineappleman83]

I am interested in adding a few ducks(2 or 3) to my flock of 5 laying hens but i can't decide what breed to get. I was originally thinking runners but i just can't find a place in my area that sells them. I need a duck that is not very aggressive and non-migrating. I'm not necessarily looking for a good layer but a frequent egg would be nice (I would really love ones that aren't so vulnerable to raccoons). Any suggestions?

 

[Amykins]

Muscovies are always a good choice! They're huge and have big, strong claws, so any raccoon would think twice before attacking one. They're also demure and quiet, and can be very friendly if you socialize them well enough!

 

[thedouph]

I suggestyou got Rouens! They have the ame colours as Malrds, and are to large to fly.

 

[Pineappleman83]

I appreciate the feedback I will take these ducks into consideration.

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

i love pekins if you like white ducks, and swedish are also really awesome. Cayuga's are also pretty quite, and as they get older their black feathers start to turn white and they become speckled! they are very fun IMO. good luck!

 

[silkiecuddles]

The Pekins are very friendly, and my two lay two eggs a day, with few exceptions. I had Mallards, but they only laid when they were making nests and the males were kind of aggressive. Used to have a khaki Cambell. Great layers. I also have one blue Swedish, but it's a male so I don't know how well they lay.

 

[r-dale]

Go pekins, don't know for a fact but what I've read is they are the best all around duck (laying/meat/mothering/FCR). All I have are muscovies, but that is the only thing available here. Now they are great ducks too, and what Amykin said is true, the moscovies have some sharp claws. One hooked me under the thumb nail on Friday and man that is still hurting me tonight.

Mom is smuggling in some pekin fert eggs for me on Thurs, Was going to get her to bring down some champbell, and golden 300 eggs too but just need to keep it simple for her.

Ducks are not a big thing I do so here is a 101 question, how long do the eggs take to bate? Done many thousands of chickens, but never done it with ducks.

 

[Pineappleman83]

I've heard quite a bit about pekins. In know a place in my area that gets a shipment in today. Thanks for all the replies!

 

[silkiecuddles]

The mallard pair I had would lay their eggs for their nest over a period of a few days, and I think It took them 28 days to hatch. They raised several successful nests. They are very flighty and mine would take morning and evening flights around my house. A few of them actually flew off!
My Pekins have yet to make a nest. Their eggs are HUGE! I've gotten several double yolkers, and one egg had a forming egg inside it! They are very sweet and talkative, and follow me constantly when I'm feeding the animals.
If you're looking for an egg laying duck, I would say Pekins or Khaki Cambells. Khakis supposedly lay more eggs than chickens! The male khakis look a bit like Mallards

 

[needlessjunk]

If you want eggs hybrids (golden 300 or white layers), khaki campbells, welsh harlequins, magpies, Ancona and good lines of runners are the way to go. I have a mixed flock and love everyone. My Pekins were calm but I can't say anything about laying because I only had males. My welsh harlequin, white layer and Cayuga are all very sweet and I can't pick them up. My Cayuga is the only one that is egg laying age and she has been putting out an egg a day for 3 weeks. I think she is about to take a day off though since she is laying late in the day now. My runners are very sweet and are the treat hounds and coming running and will crawl in your lap for food. They don't like to be picked up at all. My crested isn't friendly but I got him as an adult. None of my ducks fly. Ducks need to be protected almost more so than chickens because they cannot fly to get away. Ducks don't roost so they are very easy targets.