Indian Runner, Magpie Khaki Campbell comparison

[Koko Acres]

Hi everyone! I am trying to make a decision about which breed to order from Metzer.

I am looking for insight as to skittishness.

The ducks will be housed next to our fenced vegetable garden and will be allowed in there on a supervised basis for insect control, etc. so I need a good forager that is lightweight and that will lay a good amount of eggs.

I’ve narrowed it down to Magpies, Runners and Khaki Campbells.

I love the magpies and I have read that they are very calm but I’m concerned about the difficulty in producing well marked birds in subsequent breedings. I am not interested in showing, but I’d like to be able to sell well marked birds when I do breed them.

As far as runners, they would be able to do everything that I need them to do, but my issue with them is that I’ve owned them before.

I got them as adults and the Drake was such an aggressive mater that he killed one of his hens, and they always acted like I was trying to murder them when I came with ten feet of them. I did not like them very much. Evidently the feeling was mutual. I don’t know if I raised them from ducklings if they would be any less skittish.

Khaki Campbells would be great foragers and layers but I’ve read that their skittishness is worse than Runners.

Any advice you could give would be much appreciated!

Can Runners and Campbells be calm birds if they’re handled from ducklings? I am not interested in having ducks that are terrified of me.

Thanks!

 

[FowlProtector]

now have Indian Runner ducks, and they are about a year old.
I adore them. My absolute favorite is the best!

 

[Koko Acres]

now have Indian Runner ducks, and they are about a year old.
I adore them. My absolute favorite is the best!

Thank you! Are they skittish? Do they run from you? Did you raise them from ducklings?

 

[KathiQuacks]

Sorry, I can’t comment on specifics of the breeds listed, just some general info.

Ducks are prey animals, so they will naturally be skittish around people, even if you raise them from ducklings. Layer ducks, like Runners and Campbells, will generally be more skittish.

I found hanging out near, but not really interacting with, my ducks helped a lot in easing their nerves. I’ll also sit with them while they eat their main feed and hand feed them. My ducks don’t like being approached or picked up, but they aren’t afraid of me, either.

 

[FowlProtector]

Thank you! Are they skittish? Do they run from you? Did you raise them from ducklings?

Yes, I raised them as ducklings, and they’re quite the followers. They’ll even follow me around occasionally. However, as @KathiQuacks rightly pointed out, the ducks don’t enjoy being picked up, yet they still follow me.

 

[FowlProtector]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/indian-runner.10925/reviews

 

[Koko Acres]

Sorry, I can’t comment on specifics of the breeds listed, just some general info.

Ducks are prey animals, so they will naturally be skittish around people, even if you raise them from ducklings. Layer ducks, like Runners and Campbells, will generally be more skittish.

I found hanging out near, but not really interacting with, my ducks helped a lot in easing their nerves. I’ll also sit with them while they eat their main feed and hand feed them. My ducks don’t like being approached or picked up, but they aren’t afraid of me, either.

Okay thank you so much!

 

[Koko Acres]

Yes, I raised them as ducklings, and they’re quite the followers. They’ll even follow me around occasionally. However, as @KathiQuacks rightly pointed out, the ducks don’t enjoy being picked up, yet they still follow me.

Thank you! I am not interesting in picking them up. I just don’t want them to run from me when I get within 10 feet of them.

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

I had a few Khaki Campbells from Metzer, and they were some of my calmer ducks. I liked them a lot. One was a drama queen, though.

 

[Koko Acres]

I had a few Khaki Campbells from Metzer, and they were some of my calmer ducks. I liked them a lot. One was a drama queen, though.

Thank you! I have been researching more and I really am leaning towards the Khakis. I sell eggs here from our farm and I think the addition of duck eggs would be very beneficial. I wasn’t aware that the laid so many eggs!

We’re yours good foragers?