Questions about different duck breeds

[Luv Ducks]

Hi.

Since yesterday, I have definitively separated my Cayuga and my Khaki Campbell ducklings from their mama.
Indeed, even though the ducklings are just 5-weeks-old, the hen has just not been raising them for... I don't know, but at least for a pretty long time? (For them at least...)

She just was not warming them, and prefered to go live her life in the yard than stay with her babies... so, I just decided to let them alone during the day, and let the hen sleep with the other chickens during the night.

...Surprisingly, the mama was not happy to not sleep in the same run than the ducklings last night, but... again : since she was not warming them anymore (did she actually do it even once?!), it is useless to keep them together.

And so, I forced the hen to sleep with her friends last night; and for the first time, I then put the two ducklings in the same run than my adult duck hens.
...And they did not fight!



I'm French, and I did not even know Rouen ducks were so friendly compared with other breeds...!!



...More I am learning about Bantam ducks, more do I want them...

What could you tell me about Call ducks?

After thinking about that, I may be interested by Bantam ducks, but... that's mating that (still) worry me.

Can Bantam drakes fertilize bigger ducks' eggs?
And are they more sex driven than bigger drakes...?

...Are Bantam hens at risk of wound if mated by bigger drakes...?

I am interested by Wood Ducks, Mandarin Ducks, Call Duck, and Black East Indie Ducks...
But regarding Mandarin and Wood Ducks, I don't know what to think, because I might take only drakes home, but given they are monogamous... I don't know if it is a good idea?

If you do know something, please tell!
(Thank you!)



Then that's a shame she is a mule and can not have babies...

Was she your only duckling, at the time?



Thank you!

You are most welcome. My Mule Duck had two brothers that were raised in my house until they were around 5 weeks old but they were over mating my Hens so they went down the road. I started out with 4 little Call Drakes that I got from trading my big Drakes for them. I was thinking they would be easier on my Hens. Then I found three of them piled on my Mallard Duck so I got rid of two of them. I wanted the Pastel colored ones that Metzer farms sells unsexed. I ended up with a Male and a female. The female is relatively quiet but if she gets upset the whole neighborhood knows about it, lol. I live in a housing development but my neighbors all like me so I have not gotten into trouble having 18 ducks now. I did have 21, 3 big drakes just got rehomed. My Call Duck males chase my girls all over the place but being so small they do not pluck their feathers out or hurt them. So far my female has done well not getting over mated but she was born in March so I am not sure if she is sexually active or not. I recently bought another Runner Duck and it turned out to be a male. It is too young to mate so I am not sure if he will try to bother her or not. The Wood Ducks that I have seen and I did actually have one are quite flighty and not very tame. This may not be the case for all of them and my Rouen Ducks are friendly but it may not be the case for all of them either. I have had a Call Duck male successfully mate my Mallard Duck. She hatched out a black bibbed duckling and he was the only black bibbed duck in the pen. It turned out to be a male so I rehomed it also. The more time you can spend with your ducks the more they will love you and listen to you no matter what the breed it seems. Mine have lots of room and netting over the top of the pen to keep them safe so they seem to be quite happy ducks. Good luck with your decision on which ones you want to get. I am not sure if you can get shipped ducks to France or not but I certainly hope that you can.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

The Cayuga and Khaki Campbell ducklings keep staying together, but now they are forced to share a coop and a run with my adult Indian Runner hens, they are more at ease with them.

Today, they have gone swimming in the ducks' pool for the first time :

(They really did not stay long, so I could not take a better picture of them in the water!!)

Actually, that's not the first time they bath : they have done so for two weeks at least, but it was in a dish basin, so they could not really swim...

But today, I cleaned the pool; and then, since I have noticed these two ducklings are actually big enough now, I kind of forced them to try this pool once it was filled with clean water...

...ALSO : I don't know if it is because they are so young and still peep more than they quack, but... even though the ducklings freerange, they keep coming to see and rest next to the run in which my younger, now 10-days-old duckling is enclosed (with his mama).

...I hope it means they will be friend fast?
So at least this poor, single last born duckling will not be alone when I will let him freerange with the other ducks...

...Here the baby is, at 10-days-old :

From his stance, he looks like a Cayuga duckling to me - and not like a Black Indian Runner...

He tends to stand upright now; but his chest looks too strong for him to not be a Cayuga, and when he walks, he moves too close to the ground to be a Runner... (In my humble opinion at least...!)

Whatever he is, and whatever his gender is... I will keep him. Or her...

You are most welcome. My Mule Duck had two brothers that were raised in my house until they were around 5 weeks old but they were over mating my Hens so they went down the road.

Drakes are beautiful (coloured), but having too many can be a disaster...

That's a shame you had to separate from yours... especially since you did raise them yourself, in your house!
(At least : congratulations for that, since it is more complicated than letting a broody hen raise them.
Not everybody can do that...!)

I was thinking they would be easier on my Hens. Then I found three of them piled on my Mallard Duck so I got rid of two of them. I wanted the Pastel colored ones that Metzer farms sells unsexed. I ended up with a Male and a female. The female is relatively quiet but if she gets upset the whole neighborhood knows about it, lol.

...Pastel coloured Call ducks are just too cute...!!

Hmmm... My lightest ducks are Indian Runners, so maybe a Call drake will not be too much for the hens...?
I would understand for a small hen, but... bigger hens?

...For the time being, I am not bringing any bantam duck home. (Or if I do, I would buy Mandarin and/or Wood drakes...)

Nevertheless, I am thinking about it for next year.

After seeing pictures of Wood Duck crosses, I really want to try breeding a Wood duck with bigger ducks myself, such as Indian Runner and Cayuga ducks (if possible)...

I live in a housing development but my neighbors all like me so I have not gotten into trouble having 18 ducks now. I did have 21, 3 big drakes just got rehomed.

You clearly are doing something right, but if ALL your neighbours like you... you are also lucky : you could be the best kind of neighbour there is, and still be harassed by mean people...

My Call Duck males chase my girls all over the place but being so small they do not pluck their feathers out or hurt them.

That is reassuring!!

The Wood Ducks that I have seen and I did actually have one are quite flighty and not very tame.

I... have heard Wood Ducks are not pet material, indeed...

Mandarin ducks seem to be easier to raise, but I could not take hens for them (since too small for my current drakes), and Mandarin not being able to produce hybrids would mean they would be useless but for their looks...
(I still don't know if I would want to own a Mandarin drake without a Wood Duck...?)

...Thankfully, there are also other ducks that are beautiful, so I just could buy them if I found them - instead of trying my luck with Mandarin and Wood Ducks...
(I actually am more interested in Shelducks...)

The more time you can spend with your ducks the more they will love you and listen to you no matter what the breed it seems.

...Not Indian Runners...

They are funny, and can be educated to not be so scared of their owners anymore... but even though my drakes even like to be petted sometimes, I don't think I own a single Indian Runner that actually love me.
Or if they do, they don't tell me...?

(Actually... no : I know my Runners AT LEAST like me when I clean their pool, and then fill it with clean water...!!)

Good luck with your decision on which ones you want to get.

Thank you.

I have TWO hens that are broody again... so I have bought 25 duck eggs online this morning.

Sadly, there were not Khaki Campbell eggs... so instead, I decided I would try Pekin duck eggs (among the other ones I bought : Duclair, Saxe, Cayuga, and White Indian Runner).

I am not interested by Pekin ducks, since they are too big... but I need(ed) eggs for my hens, and I am pretty sure it will be easy to re-home these ducks if the eggs do hatch...

And really : it would be a lie to say I am not excited to see myself what king of birds are Pekin ducks... (Are they so sweet than they are told to be?!)

 

[Luv Ducks]

Hi.

The Cayuga and Khaki Campbell ducklings keep staying together, but now they are forced to share a coop and a run with my adult Indian Runner hens, they are more at ease with them.

Today, they have gone swimming in the ducks' pool for the first time :

View attachment 3902757

(They really did not stay long, so I could not take a better picture of them in the water!!)

Actually, that's not the first time they bath : they have done so for two weeks at least, but it was in a dish basin, so they could not really swim...

But today, I cleaned the pool; and then, since I have noticed these two ducklings are actually big enough now, I kind of forced them to try this pool once it was filled with clean water...

View attachment 3902760

...ALSO : I don't know if it is because they are so young and still peep more than they quack, but... even though the ducklings freerange, they keep coming to see and rest next to the run in which my younger, now 10-days-old duckling is enclosed (with his mama).

...I hope it means they will be friend fast?
So at least this poor, single last born duckling will not be alone when I will let him freerange with the other ducks...

...Here the baby is, at 10-days-old :

View attachment 3902761

From his stance, he looks like a Cayuga duckling to me - and not like a Black Indian Runner...

He tends to stand upright now; but his chest looks too strong for him to not be a Cayuga, and when he walks, he moves too close to the ground to be a Runner... (In my humble opinion at least...!)

Whatever he is, and whatever his gender is... I will keep him. Or her...



Drakes are beautiful (coloured), but having too many can be a disaster...

That's a shame you had to separate from yours... especially since you did raise them yourself, in your house!
(At least : congratulations for that, since it is more complicated than letting a broody hen raise them.
Not everybody can do that...!)



...Pastel coloured Call ducks are just too cute...!!

Hmmm... My lightest ducks are Indian Runners, so maybe a Call drake will not be too much for the hens...?
I would understand for a small hen, but... bigger hens?

...For the time being, I am not bringing any bantam duck home. (Or if I do, I would buy Mandarin and/or Wood drakes...)

Nevertheless, I am thinking about it for next year.

After seeing pictures of Wood Duck crosses, I really want to try breeding a Wood duck with bigger ducks myself, such as Indian Runner and Cayuga ducks (if possible)...



You clearly are doing something right, but if ALL your neighbours like you... you are also lucky : you could be the best kind of neighbour there is, and still be harassed by mean people...



That is reassuring!!



I... have heard Wood Ducks are not pet material, indeed...

Mandarin ducks seem to be easier to raise, but I could not take hens for them (since too small for my current drakes), and Mandarin not being able to produce hybrids would mean they would be useless but for their looks...
(I still don't know if I would want to own a Mandarin drake without a Wood Duck...?)

...Thankfully, there are also other ducks that are beautiful, so I just could buy them if I found them - instead of trying my luck with Mandarin and Wood Ducks...
(I actually am more interested in Shelducks...)



...Not Indian Runners...

They are funny, and can be educated to not be so scared of their owners anymore... but even though my drakes even like to be petted sometimes, I don't think I own a single Indian Runner that actually love me.
Or if they do, they don't tell me...?

(Actually... no : I know my Runners AT LEAST like me when I clean their pool, and then fill it with clean water...!!)



Thank you.

I have TWO hens that are broody again... so I have bought 25 duck eggs online this morning.

Sadly, there were not Khaki Campbell eggs... so instead, I decided I would try Pekin duck eggs (among the other ones I bought : Duclair, Saxe, Cayuga, and White Indian Runner).

I am not interested by Pekin ducks, since they are too big... but I need(ed) eggs for my hens, and I am pretty sure it will be easy to re-home these ducks if the eggs do hatch...

And really : it would be a lie to say I am not excited to see myself what king of birds are Pekin ducks... (Are they so sweet than they are told to be?!)

Some people swear by Pekin saying they are the friendliest of all ducks. My husband had one that lived with his dog side by side in the dogs house and only ate dog food. When the dog died it also died not too long after, probably out of loneliness. It did not have the right food but lived just fine which shocked me as they knew nothing about ducks. No pond, no extra niacin, just dog food. He said it was really friendly. I have never wanted any because of worrying about the extra niacin and their weight plus how much they would eat. A lot of them have leg problems because of their weight. Hopefully all will work out well with your egg hatching. Good luck.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

My Cayuga and Khaki Campbell ducklings are growing so fine they are almost as big than my adult Indian Runner hens.
...They actually even look heavier...

They have a surprisingly good relationship with the adult hens, but - during the days - are actually seemingly bonding (through the metal panels of the little duckling's current run) with the single, now 2-weeks-old Cayuga duckling...

I'm happy for that, since I was afraid the little Cayuga would feel sad because of loneliness... (I know they can die if too much depressed...)

...Also, I'm happy to report three new ducklings are born yesterday from the eggs I bought online :
- 2 Duclair - (Bibbed) Black Coloured;
- 1 Khaki Campbell.

Here they are :

I don't know if THIS Khaki Campbell has a bib like my other one... I will have to look.

I at least really hope this baby is a boy... so I can have Khaki Campbell babies next year...!

I also hope the Duclair ducklings are a boy and a girl, since the breed is so hard to find... and I don't really want to still buy (a lot of) eggs...

(They are so cute I'm screaming inside...!!)

Some people swear by Pekin saying they are the friendliest of all ducks. My husband had one that lived with his dog side by side in the dogs house and only ate dog food. When the dog died it also died not too long after, probably out of loneliness. It did not have the right food but lived just fine which shocked me as they knew nothing about ducks. No pond, no extra niacin, just dog food. He said it was really friendly.

God... Pekin ducks sound so cute...!
In fact, they are not only friendly : they are dogs...?!

I know of someone who want frienly ducks, so if I ever hatch Pekin eggs, I will trust what you say and give them to him.

I have never wanted any because of worrying about the extra niacin and their weight plus how much they would eat.

You know... in France, we don't talk/learn/KNOW about Niacin deficiency.
Even though it sounds like a pretty big, or at last common issue in America...?

(I have learned about Niacin on the internet, and only thanks to the fact I can speak English.)

I don't particularly worry about Niacin deficiency in my ducks. I just don't feelt it is a problem in France...? (Maybe because of food... or I don't know...?)

A lot of them have leg problems because of their weight.

I did not know about that.

I ever I have a Pekin duck in the future, I will carefully monitor his food intake!

Hopefully all will work out well with your egg hatching. Good luck.

Hmmm... about 2 ducklings per 10 eggs.
Do you think it is good, or bad? ...For eggs bought online and shipped in packages...?

Today, I have received 25 eggs home.
Or I should have : I actually returned the package as recommended by the postwoman, because the eggs were broken inside and were leaking through the cardboard... (Thus : no Pekin ducklings for me for the time being!!)
...But in spite of the fact he is obligated by the law, the seller refuses to reimburse me. Even though he will be indemnified (totally reimbursed by the post office)...

But I am not letting go of my money. I know my rights; and I know his duties..

Does that also happens often, in America?

...My experiences with shipped eggs is really disappointing.
I'm happy I got ducklings from them, but I'm still disappointed by the so low hatch rate (and the seller's behaviour).

 

[Luv Ducks]

Hi.

My Cayuga and Khaki Campbell ducklings are growing so fine they are almost as big than my adult Indian Runner hens.
...They actually even look heavier...

They have a surprisingly good relationship with the adult hens, but - during the days - are actually seemingly bonding (through the metal panels of the little duckling's current run) with the single, now 2-weeks-old Cayuga duckling...

I'm happy for that, since I was afraid the little Cayuga would feel sad because of loneliness... (I know they can die if too much depressed...)

...Also, I'm happy to report three new ducklings are born yesterday from the eggs I bought online :
- 2 Duclair - (Bibbed) Black Coloured;
- 1 Khaki Campbell.

Here they are :

View attachment 3906551

I don't know if THIS Khaki Campbell has a bib like my other one... I will have to look.

I at least really hope this baby is a boy... so I can have Khaki Campbell babies next year...!

View attachment 3906575

I also hope the Duclair ducklings are a boy and a girl, since the breed is so hard to find... and I don't really want to still buy (a lot of) eggs...

View attachment 3906576

(They are so cute I'm screaming inside...!!)



God... Pekin ducks sound so cute...!
In fact, they are not only friendly : they are dogs...?!

I know of someone who want frienly ducks, so if I ever hatch Pekin eggs, I will trust what you say and give them to him.



You know... in France, we don't talk/learn/KNOW about Niacin deficiency.
Even though it sounds like a pretty big, or at last common issue in America...?

(I have learned about Niacin on the internet, and only thanks to the fact I can speak English.)

I don't particularly worry about Niacin deficiency in my ducks. I just don't feelt it is a problem in France...? (Maybe because of food... or I don't know...?)



I did not know about that.

I ever I have a Pekin duck in the future, I will carefully monitor his food intake!



Hmmm... about 2 ducklings per 10 eggs.
Do you think it is good, or bad? ...For eggs bought online and shipped in packages...?

Today, I have received 25 eggs home.
Or I should have : I actually returned the package as recommended by the postwoman, because the eggs were broken inside and were leaking through the cardboard... (Thus : no Pekin ducklings for me for the time being!!)
...But in spite of the fact he is obligated by the law, the seller refuses to reimburse me. Even though he will be indemnified (totally reimbursed by the post office)...

But I am not letting go of my money. I know my rights; and I know his duties..

Does that also happens often, in America?

...My experiences with shipped eggs is really disappointing.
I'm happy I got ducklings from them, but I'm still disappointed by the so low hatch rate (and the seller's behaviour).

So sorry to hear about this incident with the seller. I have only bought live ducklings online, never any eggs. I have heard from friends though how hard they are to hatch due to the rough handling they get and sometimes odd temperatures depending on the time of year it is. I also have heard lots of times of very low hatch rates. Some people have luck with them and others not. I think it is all in how they are handled before they get to you. I have had good luck buying ducklings online though. My incubator is a cheap one and has only hatched out two ducklings from my own eggs before. I hope you can get this seller to give you back your money. Pekins need extra niacin simply because they are a meat duck, bred to grow very fast and get big for the table. People keep them as pets though because they are said to be so friendly. A lot depends on how much time you spend with a duck on how friendly it will turn out. I hope things turn out well for you and your babies are beautiful!!!!

 

[Blue Andalusian]

Hello.

I would like to add some new duck breeds in my yard...

I already own Indian Runner ducks and chickens.
I would want to add at least one breed that could live and free range together with my birds - with these qualities if possible :
1 - good egg layers (a breed that lays even in winter would be great);
2 - good meat, in case I need to cull the extra drakes;
3 - good looks;
4 - bad flyers - being ducks that don't fly away from home;
5 - not destructive, because I want to keep my yard intact.

(Considering the quality of meat is a first for me, because I NEVER culled an animals. Besides, I am kind of afraid of corpses...
Nevertheless, I know if I have too much drakes amongs the ducklings born in my garden, I will eventually need to kill them if nobody wants them.
So, I think that's time for me to prepare myself...!)

...My two favorite breeds to bring home would be Cayuga and Khaki Campbell, but I am also interested in Duclair, Magpie, Ancona, and Welsh Harlequin ducks.

...What I would need is : pros and cons, and personal experiences with these ducks.
Or even OTHER duck breeds you could think about : I am still not decided with what I will bring home, after all...!

Ideally, I would want ducks that could peacefully go to bed together with my Indian Runners.
I would separate them if possible, but preferably, I would not want to : when storms are coming, it would be easier for me if I could just herd all of my duck in only ONE run and not worry about them ending up to fight each other in their enclosed space.

(Speaking about herding : do these breeds are ducks easy to herd?)
I also would want ducks that are not particularly heavy or destructive.
...because my Indian Runners are not : they don't make any damage to the yard, and only the ducklings and juveniles eat my grass and my veggies...
And I really don't want to bring home ducks that will destroy my garden and my plants (rosemary, lavender, thyme, etc...)...

Of course, I would need these duck to stay home, so...
...Do they need to have a constant access to a pool?
Because I will separate my ducks in different parks for mating season, but I probably will not have a pool for each one of them (just small basins)...
So : would these ducks (try to) fly away if they don't have a pool?

...In fact : what could you tell me? And recommend me?
How many hens for these drakes...?
...Are they gentle? ...Good pets?
Etc... whatever you think about...!

(If you have pictures and stories to share, I would really love it if you do...!)

Also... do somebody know if Australian Shellducks and/or small ornemental ducks could all also live and go to bed together with Runner ducks without killing each others...?

And not to be horrible, but just in case I can't give away all of my young runner drakes before next winter : what about Indian Runner's meat...?

(...Last question : given chicken hens can keep and use their rooster's sperm during three weeks after the mating... do I have to assume it is the same for ducks?
It is just to know how long my ducks need to be separated in different parks for me to be sure the ducks' eggs are fertilized by the drakes of my choice...)

Thank you!

i have some ducks, i'm not good with Duck breeds. I know a lot about ducks, but not Breeds. I own: Black Swedish, Buff Cross (I used to own 3 buff) and a Black Swedish Cross (she looks like a Blue Swedish). I also used to own 2 Silver Applegate ducks (they are a meat breed, I'm pretty sure). I'm not sure if your aware, but I'll throw in some random duck information. 1. You need to have a minium 3 ducks. 2. You should have a Equal amount of Males and Females, or more Females then Males. Otherwise you will have to Butcher or Rehome (From my Experience, Mating can be Brutal if you have too many Males. When you have a Equal amount of Males and Females. Some males may go after a certain one, but may not be as brutal of having more Males then Females. As if you have more Females then males, Which would probably be the best. The Males can go after whichever Females they want, so if they're is more Females. The Breeding will not be brutal) Again, I'm not very good with Duck Breeds. But I think Black Swedish or/and buff, May be a good laying breed. As for Pet Ducks, if you sit down with them when they grow up (better if you get them as ducklings). And feed them when your by them, and don't spook them. You have a Chance of getting a Pet duck, you could also put your (Future) Pet Duck(s) in a Duck/Chicken/Animal Run. And sit down with them. As for Good looks, I think that all the ducks I had are good Looking. So i'd say for Breeds: Black Swedish, Blue Swedish, Buff (Buff Orpington), Mallards and Silver Applegate. I see you mentioned you want ducks that DO NOT fly away, Well. Do not get Mallards then, Mallards are a kind of Duck Breed. That you would see in the Wild, you can keep them as Pets. You can get them in Stores, and will fly away in the winter. And you have a Chance of them MAYBE coming back in spring/summer. I've owned Ducks and Chickens for years (since I was little, Basically), so if you have questions. You can Ask me ^^

 

[Blue Andalusian]

i have some ducks, i'm not good with Duck breeds. I know a lot about ducks, but not Breeds. I own: Black Swedish, Buff Cross (I used to own 3 buff) and a Black Swedish Cross (she looks like a Blue Swedish). I also used to own 2 Silver Applegate ducks (they are a meat breed, I'm pretty sure). I'm not sure if your aware, but I'll throw in some random duck information. 1. You need to have a minium 3 ducks. 2. You should have a Equal amount of Males and Females, or more Females then Males. Otherwise you will have to Butcher or Rehome (From my Experience, Mating can be Brutal if you have too many Males. When you have a Equal amount of Males and Females. Some males may go after a certain one, but may not be as brutal of having more Males then Females. As if you have more Females then males, Which would probably be the best. The Males can go after whichever Females they want, so if they're is more Females. The Breeding will not be brutal) Again, I'm not very good with Duck Breeds. But I think Black Swedish or/and buff, May be a good laying breed. As for Pet Ducks, if you sit down with them when they grow up (better if you get them as ducklings). And feed them when your by them, and don't spook them. You have a Chance of getting a Pet duck, you could also put your (Future) Pet Duck(s) in a Duck/Chicken/Animal Run. And sit down with them. As for Good looks, I think that all the ducks I had are good Looking. So i'd say for Breeds: Black Swedish, Blue Swedish, Buff (Buff Orpington), Mallards and Silver Applegate. I see you mentioned you want ducks that DO NOT fly away, Well. Do not get Mallards then, Mallards are a kind of Duck Breed. That you would see in the Wild, you can keep them as Pets. You can get them in Stores, and will fly away in the winter. And you have a Chance of them MAYBE coming back in spring/summer. I've owned Ducks and Chickens for years (since I was little, Basically), so if you have questions. You can Ask me ^^

Edit for this comment ^

Edit for the Comment: Ducks can be Gentle


For Pros and Cons for Ducks (not the Breeds In General).




CONS:


Mating (Can be Brutal)

Messy (Ducklings will try to swim in the water bucket you give them, and the Bedding will get messy)

Can be Mean (Like, The Breed. Muscovy's, they can get Aggressive during Mating Season. By chasing you, or trying to Scratch you with they're claws)




PROS:


Can be Good Pets (Some Ducks)

Usually will be Good will other Pets or Chickens

During Winter, Will Eat snow for water (Kinda a Pro? So if your Pond Freezes over, you don't need to worry about the Water)



Can't think of any other Pros at this second, but I'll edit this message. If I remember anything or remember I typed this Message