Which duck breeds are healthiest?

[Quatie]

My ducks haven't come yet,(Should ship in 17 days.) but what is you guys opinion on Swedish? My sister picked it out and we're getting one.

Swedish are sweet, but don't seem to be the most social ducks. They are friendly, but they like to do their own thing. They are big time foragers. They will not forage as much as runners or Muscovy, but they will go past the food in the morning and head straight to foraging. They are fairly decent layers and don't really broody in my experience. I have one that does, but the other two don't. They are also a very calm relaxed duck.

 

[BelovedBirds]

I vote for Muscovies. They’ve had the least “human interference”. No one has messed too much with their genetics to make them fatter or lay more eggs. They tend to lay with the sole focus of creating a clutch to raise more Muscovies. Because they spend so much time being broody, they lay fewer eggs. The females are not overly heavy, but are strong and solid.

As for getting along with mallard-derived hens, they will socialize, but they very much appreciate having someone of their own kind that speaks their language.

My two are the “top ducks” of my little flock. They usually make their position clear with just a “playful” feather nip (which amuses them greatly) but they do have more ornery moments when broody or bored. They definitely have 110% personality.

Anyways, my two are only four, but have had no health issues beyond torn nails. @Miss Lydia has far more experience with them and I believe even has one that is 14 years old!

Anyways, Muscovies get my vote. I also have Rouen hens and had a Pekin hen. My Pekin died mysteriously at 2, and my oldest Rouen (6 years old) has had endless reproductive issues that I blame on poor genetics.

I'm honestly so happy with this feedback! I think in time I could become absolutely obsessed with muscovies haha.
It will be, what feels like, a very long time before I will be able to get any, but for now I think they're top of my list! Second are buffs and then cayugas

 

[Isadora]

I’m assuming domestic mallards would be pretty healthy too. They’re small and I’m guessing haven’t been bred to lay a ton of eggs either. I don’t know how your set up is but since you’re looking for pets, I don’t know how good they would be unless if you have a secure run that they can’t escape from. They likely won’t just fly off and leave since they’re pets and being taken care of but they would probably try to fly out to explore outside of the run if they could. Might be hard getting them back in

Beat me to it. I was going to suggest Mallards.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Beat me to it. I was going to suggest Mallards.

Do you know how many eggs domestic mallards typically lay?

 

[Isadora]

Do you know how many eggs domestic mallards typically lay?

I haven't looked it up, but I do have a mallard who's s little over 1e and she lays two to three eggs a week.

 

[Quatie]

Beat me to it. I was going to suggest Mallards.

I was thinking them too, since they don't lay as many eggs. I haven't had a Mallard, but I imagine they are pretty broody. Have you experienced a lot of broodiness from yours?

 

[Isadora]

I was thinking them too, since they don't lay as many eggs. I haven't had a Mallard, but I imagine they are pretty broody. Have you experienced a lot of broodiness from yours?

Not yet, but I haven't had her very long.

 

[KaleIAm]

This is a really great question and something I wish I had known more about before I got into ducks. I suspect, like others have mentioned, that the least inbred ducks are the healthiest. Those are likely mallards and muscovies since people haven't messed with the breeds much. Personally, I wish I had started with either of those breeds - though I do adore the ducks I have and have had. It has just been a lot of heart break. I literally doubled my work hours to afford their veterinary expenses.

Welsh harlequin, passed at age 2 from aspergillosis. Had serious reproductive issues since age one, including egg binding almost weekly. Occasional bumble foot.

Cayuga, passed at age 2.5 from reproductive cancer.

Khaki Campbell, passed at age 4 from EYP.

Crested Pekin, passed at age 7 from reproductive cancer and EYP. From age 1 had severe reproductive issues. Multiple surgeries. Foot issues. Feather issues. More issues. Wonderful and very loved duck.

I still have a welsh harlequin, age 7, and a khaki, age 8. They have both had various minor reproductive issues and other health problems. All my ducks have seemed incredibly medically fragile.

The truth is that ducks are bred to be food production animals, not pets. And food production animals are replaceable. But a lot of us don't see them like that.

 

[Miss Lydia]

One of my sweet Buffs.

 

[BelovedBirds]

This is a really great question and something I wish I had known more about before I got into ducks. I suspect, like others have mentioned, that the least inbred ducks are the healthiest. Those are likely mallards and muscovies since people haven't messed with the breeds much. Personally, I wish I had started with either of those breeds - though I do adore the ducks I have and have had. It has just been a lot of heart break. I literally doubled my work hours to afford their veterinary expenses.

Welsh harlequin, passed at age 2 from aspergillosis. Had serious reproductive issues since age one, including egg binding almost weekly. Occasional bumble foot.

Cayuga, passed at age 2.5 from reproductive cancer.

Khaki Campbell, passed at age 4 from EYP.

Crested Pekin, passed at age 7 from reproductive cancer and EYP. From age 1 had severe reproductive issues. Multiple surgeries. Foot issues. Feather issues. More issues. Wonderful and very loved duck.

I still have a welsh harlequin, age 7, and a khaki, age 8. They have both had various minor reproductive issues and other health problems. All my ducks have seemed incredibly medically fragile.

The truth is that ducks are bred to be food production animals, not pets. And food production animals are replaceable. But a lot of us don't see them like that.

very true, it's pretty sad.

Gosh you've had a really rough go of it!! Your ducks are definitely lucky to have you.