Why would you get Ducks?

[Rosie42892]

I like pure breeds. I've been around hybrids to long...

Thanks for the link. Hang on, geese go through a laying season??? I had no idea...

I like the pure breds too! I have had khaki campbells in the past that were awesome egg machines! Nice girls too. Now I let my emotional side get to me and have choosen looks over productivity

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

I like the pure breds too! I have had khaki campbells in the past that were awesome egg machines! Nice girls too. Now I let my emotional side get to me and have choosen looks over productivity

Yeah I know what you mean. Those Hybrids just don't cut it for me...

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

So anyone know what a good breed of Duck would be for a "newbie"? (I mean not very loud, playful, not aggressive, and over all easy to care for)

 

[Going Quackers]

Muscovy girls are nice and quiet, they don't quack often mainly using trills, coos, the odd hiss lol There easy to care for and excellent foragers for pests.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Muscovy girls are nice and quiet, they don't quack often mainly using trills, coos, the odd hiss lol There easy to care for and excellent foragers for pests.

Thanks, do you know of any other breeds that would be that way?

 

[flockman]

I have pekins. I don't think that they are any louder than wild mallards in a near by pond. My ducks are pretty calm, and very comical to watch. My duck eggs are huge compared to chicken eggs. I am looking into Silver Appleyard ducks as a possibility for the future. I have the ducks for meat and eggs. If I restrict their feed they will be my egg layers if I don't restrict feed they go to freezer camp. 8 weeks after they hatch I have fresh duck meat. Last year was my first year with ducks. I got ducklings and chicks from different places but the same week. I got them April 24th and had our first duck egg on Labor day. In fact I had 3 ducks laying before any of the chickens started. I get more duck eggs from my 5 ducks with 1 not laying currently then I do from my 7 hens. I don't like hard boiled duck eggs so we keep chickens around. We also raise the chickens for meat and eggs. It is about 20 weeks before I butcher the chickens though. I have to say the ducks make much more sense if you want meat and eggs.

Geese are a whole other topic. I have geese to produce goslings to butcher. To start with I bought 3 goslings a pair and an extra to be our test to whether or not we liked goose meat. Well, we did. My goose died this spring so I had to buy a few female goslings to replace her. The gander has now adopted the goslings. Geese are a lot of fun. They are much like a 2 or 3 year old crossed with a puppy and covered with feathers.

A few years ago I wondered the same thing of Why would people want ducks and geese. I heard that people ate duck eggs, but why geese? That is when I read and learned a lot about geese and why people kept them. Now I have them.

 

[LightningTFarm]

I have Welsh Harlequins, and once they are adults they are very calm and don't make much noise at all. They lay more eggs than chickens, and they are big and delicious! I am crazy about WH ducks and recommend them to everybody.

What kind of geese do you have?

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

I have Welsh Harlequins, and once they are adults they are very calm and don't make much noise at all. They lay more eggs than chickens, and they are big and delicious! I am crazy about WH ducks and recommend them to everybody.

What kind of geese do you have?

Okay cool! Where did you get your Welsh Harlequins from?

 

[missnu01]

I got ducks, because it was like hey! I already have chickens and they have similar needs for care and food...we have the space so why not. I got to see our Pekin ducklings outside today acting like ducks and that was pretty great...but then had to come in the house to the mallard ducklings that have again just wrecked their brooder...so gross so fast. Terribly messy little things. But also super cute. And pretty once they are outside billing through puddles and eating little grasses and such...quacking at the dog, hissing at meat birds, funny waddling all over, leaving their poops somewhere I don't have to clean them up...Great!

 

[LightningTFarm]

I ordered my ducks from Holderread's. Their website is www.holderreadfarm.com. They are wonderful to deal with and have great ducks!