The one exception is the Cayuga ducks that lay charcoal gray or blackish eggs. There are some breeds that to seem to excel in different areas however. Good foragers include Ancona, Cayuga, Runner or Magpie ducks. They are all super active and will be best for weed and bug control in your yard.
But basically any breed duck will lay you delicious, rich eggs, provide you tons of nutrient-rich fertilizer in the form of manure and provide hours of entertainment.
The Livestock Conservancy has wonderful duck breed information on their site as does Metzer Farms , so spend some time looking at the breed photos and reading up on some of the different breeds that interest you. Metzer Farms also sells ducklings. If you are starting your flock of ducks to be pets as well as layers, I highly recommend buying ducklings instead of adult ducks. Starting ducklings and sitting with them, talking to them, offering them treats and handling them often is the best way to let them get used to you.
Hatching duck eggs is also a great way to ensure your ducklings are comfortable with you and friendly as adults. They have gorgeous feathering and are pretty sweet. They are pretty calm and happy as long as they have plenty of water and they are great layers, laying 6 eggs a week consistently. You may hear these ducks referred to simply as Campbells. They can tolerate a wide variety of climates, but they do like to be housed in smaller flocks of fewer than birds.
You want to avoid purchasing Campbells as crossbreeds with other duck breeds, as they might not lay as well. Campbells are considered mature at 8 months. They can hatch large broods of ducklings together but you can also incubate their eggs, too. The Buff duck breed is a dual-purpose duck that is raised for both meat and eggs. Because of this, it is a larger breed that can grow up to 8 pounds. Usually, Buff Ducks can reach up to 8 lbs. This duck breed is actually listed as critically endangered by the Livestock Conservancy.
However, this duck breed is one you just have to consider. It is a lightweight breed that produces ample amounts of eggs each year — up to ! It is a classic heritage breed for the homestead that can be raised for meat as well. This is also one of the broodiest species of ducks you can raise — they can help you raise your own ducklings on the homestead! The Welsh Harlequin Duck is a relatively lightweight duck breed, coming in at five or six pounds at most.
It has a long body and takes a while to reach maturity. However, like I said, you will get plenty of delicious white-shelled eggs each year. Plus, these ducks are known for being active foragers who produce a lean, delectable meat as a result. Magpie ducks are lightweight, typically found in shades of white and black. However, you can also purchase Magpie ducks in blue-and-white patterns, too. These ducks lay up to eggs each year, and these eggs range in color from white to blue and green — as well as everything in between.
These ducks are also one of the quietest duck breeds, offering a bit of peace and quiet if you tend to live in a more urban setting. Although Magpie ducks are also pretty small and lightweight, only reaching weights of about four or five pounds, they are active foragers. They produce gourmet-quality meat with carcasses that are easy to clean.
Ancona ducks are medium-sized birds that weigh around six pounds. Also a dual-purpose duck breed, this one lays about eggs per year and also produces tender, flavorful meat.
Native to England, this bird is found in multiple colors and will produce a wide variety of colorful eggs in shades of cream, white, green, and blue. Ancona ducks are extremely calm, and are good for living in ponds or yards. They are large enough to avoid predation by most winged predators, although they can still be vulnerable to predators like foxes and weasels on the ground. These ducks are good egg producers and will add a calm atmosphere to your farm. Ancona ducks average around six to six and a half pounds.
They are a bit heavier than their close relatives, Magpie ducks. This duck breed is native to England and is considered by many Englishmen as the top breed of duck. A popular meat breed, this duck is more calm than other types of ducks and is also quite friendly towards humans. Unfortunately, it is not as hardy to the elements or to poor care, so you will need to be vigilant about providing proper housing for this duck. This breed has white feathers and skin with pale orange feet and legs.
These ducks are good foragers and can be slaughtered in as little as eight weeks — weighing in at seven pounds then, no less! Male Aylesbury ducks can grow up to nine pounds, while females are slightly smaller. A superior meat breed, the Aylesbury duck produces meat that is flavorful and easy to fatten up. This large duck breed is shaped similarly to a Pekin, making it a good option if you are interested in raising ducks for meat.
It is beautifully colored and you can even use the feathers for fly-tying, if you like to fish! These birds are calm and friendly, laying up to eggs per year. These eggs can be bluish green or even white.
Rouen ducks are primarily raised for meat and can be butchered as early as two and a half months of age — although most people will wait until the ducks are six months old. If you have a farm pond or a wooded property, this is a great spot to raise Rouens. These large ducks are known for being incredibly massive, often reaching nine or ten pounds. They are blocky, too, with deep keels. You also need to be careful about using Rouen ducks if you want to hatch your own eggs, since they often crush their own eggs by mistake.
These ducks are considered rare int eh United States but are very popular in Europe. They eat a ton of insects and lay up to blue-grey eggs each year. These birds have unique protective coloration that makes it tough for predators to see them. They are also independent in that they are good foragers and good parents to their young. A medium sized duck, the Swedish averages six and a half to eight pounds. It enjoys foraging in orchards and paddocks so you can get some good weed control out of this duck, too.
The birds themselves tend to be small, but because of this, the meat is usually excellent. They will lay well in the spring if you are consistent about collecting eggs. Want a shot at a charcoal-colored egg? This data comes from our experience on the farm, feedback from customers, and information gathered from researchers. With so many breeds offered at Metzer Farms, we want you to make the most informed choice. Depending if you want a duck specifically for egg or meat production, foraging, show, a pet, or one of the many other reasons people raise ducks, this will help you find the best duck breed for you.
Today most domesticated types of ducks originate from the wild Mallard and a few from the Muscovy. Ducks were domesticated in Asia, but now there are many different duck breeds developed for all different climates and applications.
Due to all our domesticated ducks originating from the mallard, any one of the breeds we sell can produce fertile progeny if they cross with any other breed. Ducks will fully integrate with all the other breeds we offer. Therefore, if you want purebred ducklings hatching from your ducks, you need to keep the breeds separate during the breeding season.
Or you can let them cross and see what different shapes and colors you will get in their ducklings. Black Runner Ducks. Temperament 1 3. Weight 2 3. Mothering Poor - Fair. Egg Size 4 65 - 80 grams. APA Class Light. Foraging Ability Very Good. Conservation Status 6 Recovering.
Our Show Quality 7 Average. Flying Ability None. Origin Indonesia. Black Swedish Ducks. Temperament 1 2. Weight 2 5. Mothering Fair. Egg Size 4 80 - 90 grams. APA Class Medium. Foraging Ability Good.
Conservation Status 6 Watch. Origin Germany. Blue Runner Ducks. Temperament 1 4. Blue Swedish Ducks. Egg Size 4 80 - 95 grams. Buff Ducks. Conservation Status 6 Threatened. Origin England. Cayuga Ducks. Temperament 1 8. Weight 2 4.
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