What is the most friendly breed of duck?

[Bronwyn]

I keep reading things about how calm they are, but are the calmer ones more friendly?

My mom wants a couple of ducks that will follow her around the yard and keep her company when she's gardening (which she does a lot). She loves ducks and had them as a kid, and I'm finally convincing her to get some more, or, rather, let me get some. However, seeing as how I'm leaving for college next year, I want to make sure the ducks will be exactly what she wants as well. I am super new to this, but have been doing my best to research all requirements and different breeds--there is a lot to take in. I guess the most important thing is, really, what type of ducks should we get? Which are the easiest and most friendly?

 

[Kevin565]

Muscovies surpass any other duck breed when it comes to friendliness IMO.

 

[4hchickmama]

I agree with Kevin. I don't own any muscovies, but the ones I have been around have been friendlier than most ducks. The "calmer" breeds are going to be better simply because they are not as flighty and therefore can be handled more often. The more they are handled, the better. They can be stinky and messy if kept indoors, but you can get things like duck diapers. If she wants some that will be bonded to her, I suggest only getting a few and getting them as young as possible.

 

[desertdarlene]

Muscovies are pretty cool. But, I've heard that Pekins like people so much that they'd rather be with people than other ducks. Pekins do seem to be very friendly if raised right.

 

[Amiga]

I feel that the breed that gets the most loving, consistent attention is the best.

My runners and buffs go with me to the forest garden, and on foraging walks in our woods. They are excellent little garden helpers. They can be clumsy, stepping on plants, so I monitor where they go. This time of year (autumn) they can go pretty much anywhere with me. Spring and summer, I keep them out of the garlic, the raised beds of greens, and early on, out of the asparagus patch.

They have knocked back the slug population by, I would guess, 80 to 90 percent, they eat dandelion, chickweed and other weeds, their poop is the best fertilizer I have ever used. They are sweet, "talk" to me, like to be around me. I invested a good deal of time with the runners from the moment they arrived, and that has paid off.

The buffs were adopted as adults, and they take their cues from the runners. So the buffs are more shy, but are very sweet and good companions.

 

[Bronwyn]

Did you get the runners as ducklings or did you hatch them yourself?

 

[Amiga]

Got them as day-olds.

And Bronwyn,

 

[redsoxs]

My vote is for pekins! But I've never had muscovies.

 

[Bronwyn]

Also, there are some people who live nearby who have (I believe) blue swedish and rouen ducks that are super friendly. So, I mean, does the breed really matter, or is it more how much time you spend with them and how you care for them?

 

[Bronwyn]

And thanks. I'm having a lot of fun. I'm already pretty addicted. I still can't believe my parents are okay with this, so I am reading everything I can to make them as comfortable as possible.