Best place to order ducklings from?

[Bring]

I Know everybody will have their own opinion, but was wondering where, online, is the best place to order ducklings from? The most healthy, the least expensive, the fastest delivery... etc...

 

[Wifezilla]

My ducks from Metzer were delivered fast, I was able to order a small qty, and my ducks are very healthy. However, the quality is only so-so. What I mean by quality is adherence to breed standard. The colors are off a bit. Still healthy ducks and no complaints but something to keep in mind.

I have a duck from Privett Hatchery that I bought from a Big R. Healthy duck, but again, quality is so-so.

Holderreads is where you want to order from for quality. I am getting a Holderreads drake from a fellow BYC member saturday

 

[tonycarbs]

I've never had a problem with Metzer farms. Other than adding extra male geese in with an order. (make me have to find homes for them cause I now have too many boys)

 

[pirtykitty]

A Friend who has a preservation farm in New York suggested Metzers to me since I wouldn't be showing them and also because I couldn't get the minium of 10 from holdereads... Knows the owners and told me that he didn't breed to standard but since I wouldn't be showing them they would be good for my purposes as pets and for eggs..
I am very happy with mine.. I still want to get some of Holdereads stock but that will come with time..
am hoping maybe in spring I can get hatching eggs from someone with Holdereads stock and let Amy or Charlie hatch them for me..
I also loved that I could order as few as two.. ( but ordered 5 )
a pair of cayugas and a trio of Welsh harlequins..

If my back yard was bigger I'd have the dutch hookbills, anconas, magpies, and a few others. LOL..

 

[BeccaOH]

I did Metzer also with a couple friends and was happy. They replaced 1 that died the night of arrival and 1 with a deformed bill. The ducks seem true to their breeds.

 

[Georgia Rose]

We got ours from Ideal Poultry. They came the day after we got notice of shipment (the chickens were second day after). All ducklings and chicks survived. The ducklings are almost 3 mos. so we haven't gotten any eggs yet. As for breed standard I have no idea. Ideal has a $25 min purchase. We have been pleased so far, even with the 8 "packing peanuts" (roos) that came with 6 ducklings.

 

[streemers]

i have ordered from mcmurrey and metzer both. the healthiest ducks came from metzer. next time i am using halderreads heard great things about them

 

[FenDruadin]

I've had good luck with McMurray, but if you want top quality, Holderread is what you want. He is out of stock for this season though--you'll have to put a deposit down for next spring, and it's all old-style. He has a website, but you have to print the order forrm and mail it in. They are pleasant and easy to work with though.

And you are not likely to find better birds anywhere in America.

 

[Scott]

I've heard very good things about Holderreads (sp). They specialize in ducks and seem to know breed standards well. In fact with many breeds they carry, I believe you can choose from show or pet quality. I'd also recommend Ideal Poultry. Never ordered ducks from them, but my original foundation chicken stock came from Ideal. Seem like good people... very professional, healthy birds, etc.

 

[rainplace]

My first ducks and goose came from Metzers. They are pet quality birds, but they were healthy and I could order as few as I wanted.

My next two ducks and goose were from Holderreads, and I'll be getting all my ducks from them in the future since they have what I'm looking for in looks and breeds.