Ducks

Ducks can be very beneficially to hobby farms thanks to their adaptability to different environments. Whether you are on a small farm or a large farm, ducks will be able to adapt and flourish. Many people like owning ducks on a farm due to their relatively low maintenance requirements and that they are generally disease free.

Some people enjoy using duck eggs for cooking. Other people just simply enjoy having ducks around. If there is a small pond of stream on your farm, you can keep a small flock of ducks for breeding. However, thanks to duck’s low maintenance, you don’t necessarily need a pond or stream – a simple sunken through pan or half-barrel will work.

If you are keeping ducks on your farm for breeding, they will build their own nests and produce 12-15, or more, ducklings. It is recommended that you start with a trio of ducks – one male and two females – to produce a solid amount of ducklings per year. A small flock, though, will provide more ducks than you can count!

Some popular duck breeds for farms are the Rouen, a Pekin, or a Muscovy. The Muscovy breed is not related to domestic ducks but are used on farms as they are a good settlers and foragers.

If you are planning on keeping ducks for meat, some breeds to consider are the Abacot Ranger, Appleyard, Australian Spotted, Blue Swedish, Buff Orpington, Crested, Elizabeth, German Pekin, Magpie, Saxony, and the Welsh Harlequin.

For eggs, some breeds are the Ancona, Aylesbury, Buff, Campbell, Golden Cascade, Khaki Campbell, Runner, and Shetland.

Some farmers look for ducks for ornamental purposes. If you are one of those farmers, consider breeds like the Bali, Black East Indian, Call, Cayuga, East Indie, Mallard, Silver Appleyard and the Silver Appleyard Miniature.

Whether you prefer to keep ducks for pleasure or for monetary/food purposes, they will make a wonderful addition to any hobby farm!

Picture:Breed:
abacot-ranger-duckAbacot Ranger:
Origin: England
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat, eggs
Breed Note: Terrible at flying
ancona-duckAncona:
Origin: England
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat, breeding, eggs
Breed Note: Weigh approximately 6.5 pounds as adults
appleyard-duckAppleyard:
Origin: England
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Eggs, meat
Breed Note: When full grown they weigh in between 6 and 8 pounds
australian-spotted-duckAustralian Spotted:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat, eggs, game
Breed Note: One of the few domestic duck breeds originating in the U.S.
aylesbury-duckAylesbury:
Origin: England
Coloring: White, orange
Production: Show, eggs, meat
Breed Note: Produce anywhere between 40 to 120 eggs per year
bali-duckBali:
Origin: Bali
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Ornamental, pets, eggs
Breed Note: One of the oldest domesticated duck
black-east-indian-duckBlack East Indian:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Black, brown, green
Production: Exhibition, ornamental
Breed Note: Oldest breed of bantam duck
blue-swedish-duckBlue Swedish:
Origin: Sweden
Coloring: Blue, black, white, green, gray, red, brown
Production: Meat, eggs
Breed Note: Relatively unpopular to humans
buff-duckBuff:
Origin: United Kingdom
Coloring: Buff, blond, brown
Production: Meat, eggs
Breed Note: weigh 7 to 8 pounds
buff-orpington-duckBuff Orpington:
Origin: United Kingdom
Coloring: Buff, blond, brown
Production: Meat, eggs
Breed Note: weigh 7 to 8 pounds
call-duckCall:
Origin: Nethetherlands
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Ornamental, pets
Breed Note: Considered the nosiest breed of duck
campbell-duckCampbell:
Origin: England
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Eggs
Breed Note: Bred to create a more attractive colored duck
cayuga-duckCayuga:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Black, green
Production: Eggs, meat, ornamental
Breed Note: Female is quite vocal where as the the male rarely quack
crested-duckCrested:
Origin: Unknown
Coloring: White
Production: Exhibition, eggs, meat
Breed Note: The crest on top of their head is a mutation in which, if left alone, causes 25% of embryos to die when crested's are pure bread
dutch-hookbill-duckDutch Hookbill:
Origin: Nethetherlands
Coloring: Dusky, brown, white
Production: Exhibition
Breed Note: Seasonal egg layer
east-indie-ducksEast Indie:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Green, black. females can develop white feathers
Production: Ornamental, eggs
Breed Note: Very small only getting up to 4 through 7 pounds at maturity
elizabeth-duckElizabeth:
Origin: Australia
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat
Breed Note: both genders have same color bill, gray
german-pekin-duckGerman Pekin:
Origin: Germany
Coloring: White, orange
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Highly independent, able to leave nest after birth after only a couple hours
golden-cascade-duckGolden Cascade:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Eggs
Breed Note: Can be sexed by color of bill
indian-runner-duckIndian Runner:
Origin: indonesia
Coloring: Multiple
Production: eggs, pest control
Breed Note: Only the females quack
khaki-campbell-duckKhaki Campbell:
Origin: England
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Eggs
Breed Note: Lays on average 325 eggs per year.
magpie-duckMagpie:
Origin: United Kingdom
Coloring: White, black, yellow, orange, green
Production: Eggs, meat
Breed Note: Great at keeping insect numbers down for humans. Great foragers
mallard-ducksMallard:
Origin: Unknown
Coloring: Multiple
Production: meat, ornamental, Exhibition
Breed Note: Ancestor of nearly all domestic breeds of duck
muscovy-duckMuscovy:
Origin: South America
Coloring: White, black, red, yellow, pink
Production: Eggs, meat, pets
Breed Note: Males do not quack, only hiss
orpington-ducksOrpington:
Origin: England
Coloring: Buff, blond, brown
Production: Meat, eggs
Breed Note: Capable of laying up to 220 eggs per year
pekin-duckPekin:
Origin: China
Coloring: White, yellow, orange
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Feathers are very soft
rouen-ducksRouen:
Origin: France
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat, exhibition, eggs
Breed Note: Very closely resembles that of a Mallard
runner-ducksRunner:
Origin: indo China
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Eggs
Breed Note: Weigh between 4 and 4.5 pounds
saxony-duckSaxony:
Origin: Germany
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat, eggs
Breed Note: Grow at a slower pace than most other duck breeds
shetland-duckShetland:
Origin: Scotland
Coloring: Black, white, blue
Production: Eggs, meat
Breed Note: Males and females have different colored beaks
silver-appleyard-ducksSilver Appleyard:
Origin: England
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Exhibition, pets, meat, eggs
Breed Note: Lay roughly 250 eggs per year
silver-appleyard-bantam-ducksSilver Appleyard Bantam:
Origin:
Coloring:
Production:
Breed Note:
silver-appleyard-miniature-ducksSilver Appleyard Miniature:
Origin: United Kingdom
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Exhibition, ornamental
Breed Note: Tamed very easily, great as pets for around the house
welsh-harlequin-duckWelsh Harlequin:
Origin: United Kingdom
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat, eggs
Breed Note: Outstanding layers as they lay between 240 to 330 eggs per year

18 thoughts on “Ducks

  1. Lois E. Swann

    I want to buy some more ducks

  2. I’m looking for Runner Ducks for sale

  3. I am looking for a 1 year old female Indian Runner Duck.

  4. I would like 2 female and 1 male mscovy ducks. I’m in colorado. Jill

  5. I am looking for a pair of adult female Rouen ducks, Gordonsville, Va.

  6. I am interested in some muscovy hens and/or some pekin ducks. Can you please provide me with location information and pricing? I live in Decatur, TN.

  7. Want 5 muscovy female ducks

  8. Would like to purchase Runner 4 ducks or eggs for hatching. I live in Malabar Florida
    32950 zipcode

  9. I have two ducks an moving can’t take them with me

  10. Christine. 401-580-0966

  11. Looking for the following ducklings and chicks

    Silver Appleyard, ducks
    Blue Magpie, ducks
    Faverolles, chicks

  12. Rayshaf Beepath

    I will like to buy some moscove ducks

  13. Hello I am looking for some Indian runner ducks. I am searching for them for my sister who lives in Texas who will have them shipped to her.

  14. Michelle Saigeon

    Hello, I am looking for some backyard ducks. Still doing my research but wondering where in Michigan I could purchase some? I like the welsh harlequin’s so far. Any information would be wonderful!

  15. I would like to buy some Khaki Campbell ducks .

  16. Jerry Richmond

    I am looking for 6 Saxony chicks in NC

  17. I am looking for some call ducks

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