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: Origin: England Coloring: Multiple Production: Meat, eggs Breed Note: Terrible at flying
	Ancona: Origin: England Coloring: Multiple Production: Meat, breeding, eggs Breed Note: Weigh approximately 6.5 pounds as adults
	Appleyard: Origin: England Coloring: Multiple Production: Eggs, meat Breed Note: When full grown they weigh in between 6 and 8 pounds
	Australian 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: Origin: England Coloring: White, orange Production: Show, eggs, meat Breed Note: Produce anywhere between 40 to 120 eggs per year
	Bali: Origin: Bali Coloring: Multiple Production: Ornamental, pets, eggs Breed Note: One of the oldest domesticated duck
	Black East Indian: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Black, brown, green Production: Exhibition, ornamental Breed Note: Oldest breed of bantam duck
	Blue Swedish: Origin: Sweden Coloring: Blue, black, white, green, gray, red, brown Production: Meat, eggs Breed Note: Relatively unpopular to humans
	Buff: Origin: United Kingdom Coloring: Buff, blond, brown Production: Meat, eggs Breed Note: weigh 7 to 8 pounds
	Buff Orpington: Origin: United Kingdom Coloring: Buff, blond, brown Production: Meat, eggs Breed Note: weigh 7 to 8 pounds
	Call: Origin: Nethetherlands Coloring: Multiple Production: Ornamental, pets Breed Note: Considered the nosiest breed of duck
	Campbell: Origin: England Coloring: Multiple Production: Eggs Breed Note: Bred to create a more attractive colored duck
	Cayuga: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Black, green Production: Eggs, meat, ornamental Breed Note: Female is quite vocal where as the the male rarely quack
	Crested: 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: Origin: Nethetherlands Coloring: Dusky, brown, white Production: Exhibition Breed Note: Seasonal egg layer
	East 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: Origin: Australia Coloring: Multiple Production: Meat Breed Note: both genders have same color bill, gray
	German 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: Origin: U.S. Coloring: Multiple Production: Eggs Breed Note: Can be sexed by color of bill
	Indian Runner: Origin: indonesia Coloring: Multiple Production: eggs, pest control Breed Note: Only the females quack
	Khaki Campbell: Origin: England Coloring: Multiple Production: Eggs Breed Note: Lays on average 325 eggs per year.
	Magpie: 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: Origin: Unknown Coloring: Multiple Production: meat, ornamental, Exhibition Breed Note: Ancestor of nearly all domestic breeds of duck
	Muscovy: Origin: South America Coloring: White, black, red, yellow, pink Production: Eggs, meat, pets Breed Note: Males do not quack, only hiss
	Orpington: Origin: England Coloring: Buff, blond, brown Production: Meat, eggs Breed Note: Capable of laying up to 220 eggs per year
	Pekin: Origin: China Coloring: White, yellow, orange Production: Meat Breed Note: Feathers are very soft
	Rouen: Origin: France Coloring: Multiple Production: Meat, exhibition, eggs Breed Note: Very closely resembles that of a Mallard
	Runner: Origin: indo China Coloring: Multiple Production: Eggs Breed Note: Weigh between 4 and 4.5 pounds
	Saxony: Origin: Germany Coloring: Multiple Production: Meat, eggs Breed Note: Grow at a slower pace than most other duck breeds
	Shetland: Origin: Scotland Coloring: Black, white, blue Production: Eggs, meat Breed Note: Males and females have different colored beaks
	Silver Appleyard: Origin: England Coloring: Multiple Production: Exhibition, pets, meat, eggs Breed Note: Lay roughly 250 eggs per year
	Silver Appleyard Bantam: Origin: Coloring: Production: Breed Note:
	Silver Appleyard Miniature: Origin: United Kingdom Coloring: Multiple Production: Exhibition, ornamental Breed Note: Tamed very easily, great as pets for around the house
	Welsh Harlequin: Origin: United Kingdom Coloring: Multiple Production: Meat, eggs Breed Note: Outstanding layers as they lay between 240 to 330 eggs per year