I am obsessed with ducks . They were the first stock animal I raised when I started homestead . I ’ve kept them for meat , for eggs , for their utility inimproving land , and for the transparent joyousness of have them .
Initially , I started with white hybrid layers for their egg product . Then , I move on to Pekins which look similar but fatten quicker and position a little less . After that , I assay the Muscovy which some poultry keepers hail as the effective all - around homestead sidestep out there .
Lately , I ’ve been make my manner through the entire duck tilt so that I can win experience with all the breeds available . I have a dedicated incubator , plenty of blank space , and I ferment from home . So , trying lots of breeds is easy for me .
But for those of you who do n’t have time to try them all , how do you choose the sodding duck breed for your homestead ? tardily ! Keep reading and I ’ll give you pointers to aid you narrow down your duck conclusion .
If You Are A Duck Lover
Ducks are n’t an obvious livestock selection for everyone . Most people choose for chickens because they are more common and less daunting to raise . So , if you desire ducks , that already tells me something about you .
You , like me , are a duck lover . You may love their extra rich and tasty egg . Or possibly their delicious meat is the bait . Perhaps you have a go at it the facial expression of them swim in a pond .
That dearest , whatever drives it , is the thing that will help you narrow down the duck’s egg tilt to the stock that is right for you . So , take a few proceedings and think about what it is that make you eff ducks and want to have your own .
Read our valuable billet on what to consider whenraising ducks , building a duck house , andcaring for duck in winterto be prepare for your novel risky venture .
Reality Check – What If You’re Not?
Now , if I happen to be incorrect , and you do n’t love ducks , then let me write you some metre . You ’re reading the wrong billet ! Go check over out one of our office onchickens , goats , rabbits , or evenpigs .
duck are not right for everyone . In fact , there are quite a few rationality why ducks are n’t a first option for most squatter . The biggies are :
I could give you lots more reasons why duck’s egg might not be good for you . But if those 11 have n’t scared you off , then you really are a duck’s egg person ! That have in mind you are ready to move on to make your strain selection .
Prioritize Your Needs
Now that you ’ve develop your list of reasons why you love ducks , put them in numbered Holy Order . Does your desire for delicious duck eggs ruff all your other reason ? Does fertilise your “ duckquaponics ” system membership # 1 ?
Does your mouth water supply at the musical theme of a seared duck breast and duck fertile fries ? Do you really just need them to improve your land and control your slug population ?
If you want it all with ducks , you may have it . There are good layers that can be used for inwardness and play well in dissimilar environments . However , place your goal will help you constringe down your option based on what is most important to you first . Then you may center on those other important lowly traits .
Imagine Your Future Ducks
Now , that you have your prioritized determination in creative thinker , seek to imagine what form of life you want to give your ducks . Do you see them in their own adorable run with a wizardly duck house and mini - pool ?
Or are they sleep out on your mystifying pond to be good from predators ? Are they nest in the brush around the pool sharpness and raising their own ducklings in the wild ? Do you let them cast around in paddocks during the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and put them up in a protect shelter at night ?
Knowing how you plan to raise your ducks will help you identify the breeds most suited to your homestead aspiration . For instance , Muscovy ’s are half - fantastic and are highly well - become to free - swan . I ’ve even had Muscovy distaff duck nest in the open and erect all their hatchlings safely to maturity .
This only works though if they have full freedom of movement and hatful of places to escape such as pool , trees , thickets , over and under fences , etc . If you confine them or clip their wings , then you ’ll involve to protect them just as you would chickens .
Some of the big eggs - place breeds , such as the Khaki Campbell , are not so well - suit to total free - ranging . Because they pass an 60 minutes or more laying an egg most good morning , they are “ sitting ducks ” exactly when hawks are hunting . Giving those rich layers a whole impregnable property to lie is more ideal .
The Best Duck Breeds for the Homestead
Now , with your graded list and your imagined environment in your mind , read through the breed highlighting . remark the top duck breed that stand out as possible choice .
1. Ancona Ducks
This beautiful duck originate in England . They are on the breed lookout list . They are not heavy flier and are better suited to utilize in protected eatage , deep pond , or duck runs .
They are passably dynamic and will do well with a trivial room to lead for at least part of the Clarence Day . Ancona ’s are excellent forager if giving enough worthy space .
Laying ducks can produce 210 - 280 eggs per year and will repose some eggs in wintertime . Eggs are white , tinct , risque - leafy vegetable , and spotted .
Anconas grow tight and can be used as a kernel source . Males top out at about 6.5 pounds . female are only slenderly smaller .
2. Aylesbury Ducks
The Aylesbury Duck also hails from England . Their populations are critically low . So , if you want to help oneself economise an awe-inspiring meat duck’s egg that can librate up to 10 pounds ( drakes ) and 9 dog pound for duck , this is a consummate pick .
Due to their large size and docile nature , they are better suit to protected runs . They do a fair job foraging . But you ’ll need you to supply most of their provender , especially if you want to leaven them efficiently for heart and soul yield .
The lay 35 - 125 extra - expectant white or slightly large orchis , include a few winter eggs . They are not particularly not bad mothers but are good for kernel as their pink tegument presents well on the dining table .
3. Buff or Orpington Duck
The Buff , also called Orpington , initiate in England . Their population is presently look at threatened .
They are wonderful for meat and eggs . They weigh in at 8 British pound for drakes and about 7 pounds for female ducks . lover also have scant pin plume which means they apparel out well .
Their eggs are white or touch , large , and production ranges from 150 - 220 . They do lay some winter eggs . Also , they make fair to good mothers .
Buffs are well-off to manage duck that care to scrounge . you’re able to keep them in gravid protect run . They also process well on protect pasture and instinctive ponds .
4. Campbell Duck
The Campbell ducks are another English native . As the premier backyard laying duck’s egg , they are easy to buy . With egg capacity ranging from 250 - 340 eggs a year , for best orchis production , this is your duck .
Their ballock are big and white to tinge in colouring material . The boo only weigh 4 – 4.5 pounds . That means lower provender cost than with larger - bodied layer .
These ducks are also excellent foragers and do well on ponds or in protected pastureland . However , if you want to collect all the orchis , it ’s good to keep them confine until about 9:30 in the morning time . That will ensure their safety while they rest and give you a chance to collect their eggs from the run or house .
There are also mixed reports on how well these duck fly . Generally , once they start lay and achieve full weight , they do n’t vanish much . Some breed lines may be more scatterbrained than others , though . So , ask your breeder for more details on the variety of flight activity they see with their tune of Campbells .
mark : you may also consider the Golden Cascade duck’s egg as another vulgar choice to Campbells . They are not yet acknowledge as a breed by the American Poultry Association ( APA ) . However , they also make great layers .
5. Cayuga Duck
The Cayuga is an American originate duck on watch position . They are bring up for meat and eggs . With mature weight of 7 - 8 pounds , they make honorable - sized meat birds . However , they are very dismal - skinned which is not preferred by commercial-grade processors .
Even if you do n’t want to raise Cayugas duck’s egg for meat , they pose about 100 - 150 eggs per twelvemonth , mostly during warm conditions . Their interesting eggs can also start out black in color and disappearance to white by the end of the laying time of year .
These duck make good mothers . They do well in ponds , protected pastures , and large - sized runs . They have good forage ability . verify they have batch of shade to keep these dark square birds cool in affectionate weather .
6. Dutch Hookbill Duck
This critically endangered duck breed popularized in the Netherlands needs to be preserve . Their dependant bill is a unique feature that make them complete for beautiful backyard duck’s egg display .
These duck count from 3.5 to 6 British pound sterling look on the breed line . They lay big white to blue - fleeceable egg at a rate of 100 - 225 per class . Some breed lines are more fertile than others , so curb with your breeder on egg averages .
They do fly , which gives them some lifelike predator protection . They also do well on born ponds and eatage . In their aboriginal home ground , they were often found along channel edge . They are first-class foragers and can get much of their own food if feed enough blank space to rove .
7. Magpie Duck
Unlike the Magpies from the brag category , known to harass chicken mass , the Magpie duck’s egg is not a cuss . It does apportion similar black and lily-white coloring though , which might have something to do with the breed name .
The Magpie duck’s egg comes from Wales and its population is threatened . So , if you are looking for a outstanding layer ( 200 - 290 eggs per twelvemonth ) that also reduplicate as a centre duck , Magpies might be for you .
Their eggs are white and intermediate - sized . The birds also weigh 5 to 6 pounds which makes them a just mid - weight meat fowl . They do n’t fly well , but they are excellent foragers and do well in born pool or pasture environment .
The males of this breed are a bit aggressive , so keep no fewer than 5 female person to every male to avoid over - mating . You ’ll also require to spend a bonny amount of time taming these ducks when young because they still have their part wild nature and can be high strung at time .
This breed exact a little more work to manage on the homestead . However , their forage aptitude and duple utility make them an splendid choice for confident stock caretaker .
8. Muscovy
The Muscovy is not exactly a duck . They are unrelated to the raging Mallard from which all other domestic ducks are related to . If you traverse - breed a Muscovy to the other breeds on this leaning , the offspring will be uninspired , standardised to scuff . For that reason , Muscovy Cross are often prognosticate ‘ Moulards , ’ the French word for mule .
They herald from South America . Unlike most true ducks , they are only inhuman hardy down to about 10 ℉ . Wild Muscovies are all dark - colored . The white Muscovy ducks have been breed to have more appeal as a commercial-grade meat source . Your basic backyard Muscovy tends to have coalesce bloodless and dark plumage .
The Muscovy is fairly common , especially in warm areas with lot of waterway and good forage . Their basal use is for heart . Males top out at 12 pound while female quell a more lilliputian 6 - pound size .
Males are aggressive maters . ratio of at least 5 females to 1 male person are good . Fights over female and hierarchy can get brutal . Other than when fighting , these duck are passing quiet . Even the females do n’t quack . They or else siss and apply elaborate head motion to communicate .
The females usually make enceinte mothers . Though , I ’ve had a few crosshatch out their entire grasp of eggs after 35 days and leave their ducklings untended . ( In that type , I take over . ) They lay ballock mainly during the mating time of year . They hide their nests and go broody once they have around 10 egg in their clutch . Incubation postulate 35 days , rather than 28 days for mallard - link up ducks .
These birds are half - idle . But if you want a ego - renewing substance source and are fearless at processing , this stock has the best chance of taking care of itself on tender climate homestead .
9. Rouen Ducks
The Rouen ducks originated in France sometime before the 1800s . The traditional , not commercial-grade elan , Rouens are on the breed watch listing .
These are technically meat duck and can librate in between 8 - 10 pounds . However , they are also a lovely breed to keep as pets . Their beautiful coloration and affable personalities put them on my favorites list for garden duck’s egg .
Once they put on a little weight , they do n’t fly . So , like the very popular and common Pekin ducks , they are easy to keep from your plantation owner country even with very short fences or the function of raised garden beds . Their large size also make them less interesting to airy predators ( though not resistant , of class ) .
Rouens are seasonal layers and only acquire around 60 - 120 eggs per year . They also have a tough time setting nest due to their prominent size . They may call for a pond to pair by rights , concord to the Livestock Conservancy .
These might not be the easiest pick for a self - sufficient meat supply . But if you have the correct conditions , these are great table birdie for hedonistic homesteader . If not , just keep a few as pet for the pleasance of having them .
10. Runner Ducks
Runner ducks hail from Malaysia . Their population is currently recovering due to revitalized sake in raise them on homesteads everywhere . As their name implies , these shuttle do n’t fly . alternatively they go quite quick equate to other duck due to their upright height .
My runners also jump . They occasionally get up on obstacles that are 1 - 2 feet eminent , but not much higher . These ducks only matter about 4 – 5 pound . Their lightweight and upright stature make it easy for them to sail small space than most other duck’s egg breed .
They are often used in rotational paddock or in small-scale gardens toadd fertilityand not crush plants . The key to using them is not to overstock . Stick to around 1 duck’s egg every 800 square foundation of quad . Also , move them often so they do n’t create mud plot .
These ducks also lay about 200 - 250 bollock per year . This makes them a great choice for egg production too . They typically do not make upright mothers though . carry to do your own incubation or have a more broody duck breed to set ball carrier duck testis for you .
11. Saxony
The Saxony duck’s egg hail from Germany and their universe is menace . Some duck’s egg keepers consider this with child - sized duck’s egg , average 8 - 9 pounds , to be the best dual - purpose expectant breed . They can lie 190 - 260 extra - tumid , lily-white to patrician - green eggs per year .
They do take some time to raise out for meat . Yet , the meat is mellow - lineament , very lean , and dresses out nicely . They also make fair to sound mother which means they can be a unspoiled ego - renewing gist source .
Additionally , despite their large size , they are good forager . They are docile and well-off to contend which make them well - befit to protected paddock or magnanimous runs . They also have a majestic coming into court that invoke to exhibition breeders .
12. Silver Appleyard
The Silver Appleyard is another English native whose population is threatened . For homesteaders want to help conserve a great dual - purpose duck’s egg breed , this is a great pick .
standardised to the Saxony , they matter in between 8 - 9 pounds . They are noted for having a cryptic , wide breast which makes them preferred for meat production . They also place 200 - 270 expectant , livid eggs per year .
Many homesteaders take this strain to be the sodding ley duck . They are skilful foragers . They are well-fixed to manage . Some do have fair to honest mothering ability . Yet , they are n’t to a fault broody .
Their beautiful visual aspect and utile qualities make them an excellent all - purpose duck for self - sufficient homesteaders on protected pastures or pool .
13. Swedish Duck
The Swedish Duck is a beautiful stock from Germany and Poland , complete for destitute - cast . They are first-class forager and lovemaking to be active . They are n’t so thrilled about labour though .
They can put 100 - 150 big white to green eggs per class . They also make great mothers . Females weigh about 6 pound while male person top out at 8 pounds , which ready them a serious option free - kitchen range meat duck .
These do in gloomy or black color choices . They are also excellent for really cold climates .
14. Welsh Harlequin Duck
As their name implies , the Welsh Harlequin Duck hales from Wales . Their population is on the watch list . But , now that it ’s get easier to buy this stock from hatcheries , they are likely to recover quickly . Their beautiful appearance and sweet personalities make them one of my pet breeds .
They can repose between 240 - 330 white to tinted large eggs . Plus , since they only weigh in at around 5 Ezra Loomis Pound , their provender costs are well-fixed to negociate than for large layer . They can also be used as a meat duck because they dress well .
These are active birds with excellent forage capacity . So , they tend to do better on pastureland , in paddock , or on born ponds . you may keep them in large duck runs too and they also make good mother .
Their modest size of it , light colouring , and gentle natures make them more prone to depredation than some of the other dual - purpose duck’s egg stock . Overall though , these adorable duck are deserving the attempt to keep them safe .
15. Other Breeds
This breed list is not comprehensive . There are other interesting ducks like the Shetland from Scotland that may be more uncommitted soon . Exhibition ducks like the White Crested or Call ducks can be fun to keep for novelty purposes too .
The Pekin is a meat classic and a clean good stratum . There are also intercrossed ducks used for heavy egg production . Those are big alternative for beginners . Trust me though , once you get hooked on duck , you ’ll discover the heritage breeds with more history worthwhile to kick upstairs even if they lay a little less or do n’t fatten quite as tight .
Choose The Best Duck Breed For You
Now that you ’ve identified your main reason for keeping ducks , the ways you think raising them and have identified a few breed that might sour for you , it ’s time to do a bit more study .
This is just a undercoat on the breed . So , before you make your final selection , you ’ll want to do more intensive breed research on your top cream . Check with stock breeder and keepers of those breed to ensure their experience matches up with what you are hope for .
Then , make sure to rank your orders early . Ducklings go tight in spring . The rarer the breed , the more specify the buying options .
Oh , and receive you to the duck lovers club !
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