Indian Runner, Magpie Khaki Campbell comparison

[Sondraa]

Y’all, I must’ve just gotten a bad batch of Runners. I had 5 females and one male that I purchased as adults from a lady, and the females were so skittish it was crazy. My 17 year old daughter named the drake “Rapey Drakey” because he was so aggressive and he killed one of the females while in the act. It just made me afraid they were all like that.

A bad drake ruins harmony for the flock and for the humans. Too bad. Have you thought about incubating your own so they are raised the way you want them to be and socialised together?

 

[Koko Acres]

A bad drake ruins harmony for the flock and for the humans. Too bad. Have you thought about incubating your own so they are raised the way you want them to be and socialised together?

This time around I am planning to order sexed ducklings from Metzer. I feel like that’s the next best thing to incubating the eggs.

 

[Koko Acres]

Yeah, a drake that aggressive isn’t good / normal in any breed, especially not as a single drake and with so many girls. *I believe ducks raised together have better temperaments amongst each other, so that may be a reason to try ducklings this time around.

Not *normal in any breed*. Those are some extremely encouraging words! Thank you. I am planning to order ducklings from Metzer.

 

[Koko Acres]

Indian runners are my preference as well. Super sweet and they are easy to round up. My first small flock wound up being 50/50 boys/girls and I didn't have to cull the boys. Mind you they only lived 2 years due to predator attack but they were super chill.
Definitely runners are great foragers. I actually give mine their food before I let them free-range every day or they dont eat it. The sparrows get it.

I am leaning towards the Runners.

 

[Koko Acres]

You guys are so helpful. I am 99% sure I need some Runners after being convinced that my experience with them isn’t a normal or common thing.

I can order Blue Runners from Metzer and I’ll be able to have some fun with BBS offspring!

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I had Khakis raised by me. They were not skittish and were great at foraging. But, my drakes were big, mean, bullies. My suggestion, start with an all female flock. Then when they are older, raise and add a young drake. The girls will let him know how to act. I did it by accident, and have two super gentle drakes. My are now Dutch Hookbills though, so it could just be the breed. By the way, Hookbills would check all of your boxes but they are hard to find.