welsh harlequin ducks

[duck-horselover]

hi
i am thinking of getting two welsh harlequin ducks do you have any information on them suggested things i need to now are:
1. what vaccinations they need.
2.can two males be together
3. can two females be together
4.do females go broody all the time or just often.
5. what do they eat (is there anything they have to have in there diets
6.are they calm and friendly
7.are they quite or really loud
8. we have a rooster who sadly has to go because he is very aggressive and loud are welsh harlequin drakes the same
i have looked at heaps of sites but they all tell me mixed opinions

so i am so confused. It would be great if someone could just answer all my questions ( if you don't know an answer for some of them just forget that question).
thanks heaps.

 

[Amiga]

I don't have Welsh Harlequins, but they are so beautiful! I know there are plenty of folks here who keep them.

And sometimes we do have different opinions. There are a number of good ways to do some things. If you read the Raising Ducklings sticky that first post gives a good overview.

 

[duck-horselover]

thanks amiga for replying

and it is good to know there are different ways to do things.

 

[jducour]

hi 
i am thinking of getting two welsh harlequin ducks do you have any information on them suggested things i need to now are:
1. what vaccinations they need.
2.can two males be together
3. can two females be together
4.do females go broody all the time or just often.
5. what do they eat (is there anything they have to have in there diets
6.are they calm and friendly
7.are they quite or really loud
8. we have a rooster who sadly has to go because he is very aggressive and loud are welsh harlequin drakes the same 
i have looked at heaps of sites but they all tell me mixed opinions  so i am so confused. It would be great if someone could just answer all my questions ( if you don't know an answer for some of them just forget that question).​
thanks heaps.

1. No vaccinations needed. Ducks are pretty hearty, and rarely get sick
2. Yes, as long as there are no other females.
3. Yes, they will be very happy together, and you will get a lot of eggs!
4. My females have not ever gone broody, so I am not sure.
5. They eat poultry feed, mine are eating Purena Layena, because they are laying eggs every day. They also eat lots of bugs, fruits, veggies and leaves out of our garden, and occasional treats
6. Mine are very calm, friendly, and really beautiful
7. Mine are very quiet. My runners are so loud compared to them
8. Drakes are typically quieter than ducks, and they shouldn't be aggressive if they don't have any ducks they are protecting. I have two drakes, and they are the kindest, friendliest of the whole bunch! It really depends how much they are handled, too.

I am fairly new to this, I've only had 5ducks for 5 months, but I have learned a lot here, and have had all of my (many) questions answered. I have two drakes, a runner and a khaki Campbell, and 4 ducks, two welsh harlequins, and two runners.

 

[duck-horselover]

1. No vaccinations needed. Ducks are pretty hearty, and rarely get sick
2. Yes, as long as there are no other females.
3. Yes, they will be very happy together, and you will get a lot of eggs!
4. My females have not ever gone broody, so I am not sure.
5. They eat poultry feed, mine are eating Purena Layena, because they are laying eggs every day. They also eat lots of bugs, fruits, veggies and leaves out of our garden, and occasional treats
6. Mine are very calm, friendly, and really beautiful
7. Mine are very quiet. My runners are so loud compared to them
8. Drakes are typically quieter than ducks, and they shouldn't be aggressive if they don't have any ducks they are protecting. I have two drakes, and they are the kindest, friendliest of the whole bunch! It really depends how much they are handled, too.

I am fairly new to this, I've only had 5ducks for 5 months, but I have learned a lot here, and have had all of my (many) questions answered. I have two drakes, a runner and a khaki Campbell, and 4 ducks, two welsh harlequins, and two runners.

thanks so much for answering all my questions

, i was very unsure

once again thank you very much jducour

 

[jducour]

thanks so much for answering all my questions

, i was very unsure

once again thank you very much jducour

You are very welcome! Luckily, I had an answer to all of your questions, which is rare Please let me know if there is anything else you are wondering about.

 

[duck-horselover]

well i was wondering can you pick up your welsh harlequins like chickens ( i have 4 chickens a new Hampshire, 2x rhode island reds,buff suffix which are great when people hold them), and how many eggs ruffly do you get a year and last of all are they nice and are the eggs edible .
thanks.

 

[KaleIAm]

I have Welsh Harlequins.

No vax.
Males love each other. They were more aggressive with the females than the cayuga drakes were.
Females love each other.
My harlequin has not started laying yet, but my other ducks do and my understanding is that if you pick eggs up daily you can avoid broodiness. They lay about 150-200 a year.
Mine ate non medicated poultry crumbles when little, and pellets now. They need a particular protein percentage based on age and laying status. They also eat bugs and greens.
Mine have lovely calm friendly personalities, and come when I call. I got them at 2 days and spend tons of time just sitting with them every day. They have always crawled all over my feet and lap, but if I scoop them up they freak out for a moment and then settle down and love petting.
My Harlequin female is extremely loud. Her voice is much louder than the other ducks. She is very outgoing and likes to talk - so it may be just her personality. I love it and encourage it, she and I quack back and forth loudly. If she sees me, hears me, or suspects that I am outside she will call to me and let me know she would like a visit. But, if nothing exciting is going on she just hangs out with her friends and makes adorable soft little sounds.

Hope this helps.

 

[seashoreduck]

hi
i am thinking of getting two welsh harlequin ducks do you have any information on them suggested things i need to now are:
1. what vaccinations they need.
2.can two males be together
3. can two females be together
4.do females go broody all the time or just often.
5. what do they eat (is there anything they have to have in there diets
6.are they calm and friendly
7.are they quite or really loud
8. we have a rooster who sadly has to go because he is very aggressive and loud are welsh harlequin drakes the same
i have looked at heaps of sites but they all tell me mixed opinions

so i am so confused. It would be great if someone could just answer all my questions ( if you don't know an answer for some of them just forget that question).
thanks heaps.

1) No vax---they are unnecessary in ducks. If a vet suggests them, do a bit of research to ensure that you are doing the right thing
2) Typically yes without females. I had 2 male and 1 female mallard and they were the 3 musketeers...so anything can happen. Don't cull or get rid of them until you know they can't behave if you end up with an odd bunch
3) Females can always be together
4) They are good mothers but I think it depends on the duck adn if you pick up their egges
5) I start mine this way: Probiotic water alternating with Electrolite chick water (and plain water available) for the first 6 weeks. They have Blue Seal Multiflock crumbles. When they get older I start to use the Multivitiman (I can link you to the Amazon one) with Blue Seal Multiflock Pellets. Nearing 20 weeks I mix multiflock with the egglayer and will probably add some oyster shells in as they start to lay.
6) I have 6--4males and 2 females right now. One of the males eats out of my hands on a whims and one of the females is the sweetest duck I've known
7) My black sweedish is my talker and the boys can be grumbly, but as a group they are no worse than local birds. Now I live on 3 acres with many natural forrests and a highway nearby so things just have a hum-drum noise that dosn't really ever stop. They do quite down at night.
8) Duck males are fairly quiet and shy. They are like little boys-fire and vinegar but the best little sweethearts.

 

[duck-horselover]

thanks kaleiam and seashoreduck that was very helpful