- Feb 27, 2011
- 373
- 1
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Ok, I am trying to talk myself into ducks. What is a good starter duck? Males/Females/Both?
Best starter duck?
- Thread starter wistlindixie
- Start date
good for you! I love my call ducks but they are noisy. More experienced folks will surely help you choose!
I was at a breeders place one time and noticed a call duck, crippled, in the pen and asked what he was going to do with it. He said he was waiting for it to die. It came home with me that day, and even crippled, was a joyful pet and taught me a few things about ducks. Unfortunately, my inexperience eventually killed it. Still breaks my heart that my own stupidity cost this gentle creature its life.
I would reccomend welsh harlequins...they are pretty (always a plus), lay plenty of eggs, often go broody, and they are nice ducks. I love mine and plan on getting more from holderreads in a few days! i have not noticed that mine quack alot...its usually my buff orpington ducks that are noisy...the female is also my favorite duck because she is just soooo funny...she runs around like a little kid getting distracted by everything and her mate follows her everwhere she goes...they are nice birds and def. my favorite breed...i would say get about 4-5 ducks to start with...3-4 females and 1 male...
this is not my duck! its a pic of welsh harlequin female from the holderread website!
this is not my duck! its a pic of welsh harlequin female from the holderread website!
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I started on call ducks and am on my second year of ownin them. They are little and noisy and bossy and my whole entire world!!! They are the most wonderful little people I have ever met. I don't know if they are the ideal introduction to ducks but I ADORE mine!! Whatever duck you go with, you are in for a treat. You are gonna love them!!! They are little pests but they are just adorable!! xxxx
- Apr 14, 2011
- 4
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maybe a aylesbury duck because they dont fly away
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I also am a Welsh Harlequin fan. That being said, my starter ducks were freebies off of craigslist. I started with a couple of khaki campbells and a runner. Then picked up a buff. The runner was insane and the buff was REALLY LOUD. The campbells were not friendly, but I did learn how to take care of ducks with my freebies. After I felt more confident about raising ducks I ordered some Welsh Harlequins from Metzer and picked up a few Holderread's WH from CityChicker. I was hooked and now just have WH.
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my first ducks were buff orpingtons and they really are loud! if i had known they would be that loud I might have reconsidered getting them, they were pretty nice starter ducks tho...now im doing pretty much what you're doing to...I just want to have welsh harlequins! Im getting 20 ducklings from Holderreads in a few days!! im weeding out my other breeds of ducks...i used to have like 4 or 5 breeds and now im just down to my buffs and my welshies...and the buffs I will be selling soon...
my first ducks were buff orpingtons and they really are loud! if i had known they would be that loud I might have reconsidered getting them, they were pretty nice starter ducks tho...now im doing pretty much what you're doing to...I just want to have welsh harlequins! Im getting 20 ducklings from Holderreads in a few days!! im weeding out my other breeds of ducks...i used to have like 4 or 5 breeds and now im just down to my buffs and my welshies...and the buffs I will be selling soon...
Bantam ducks are louder and can/will fly.
Medium ducks are not as loud but can still fly but not for more than 10 feet.
Heavy ducks are a lot quieter and cannot fly since they weigh to much.
Medium ducks are not as loud but can still fly but not for more than 10 feet.
Heavy ducks are a lot quieter and cannot fly since they weigh to much.
When I first decided on ducks I went back and forth about which breed(s) I wanted to get, I loved the look of just about all of them so I ended up ordering 2 welsh harlequins and 8 mixed ducklings from metzers. I ended up with 3 welsh harlequins (1 packing peanut), 2 blue swedish, 2 black runners, 2 chocolate runners, and 2 buff. I made a second order for 2 embden geese, 2 fawn and white runners and 2 blue runners. As they have grown I have just fallen in love with the welsh harlequins and runners! I have a pending order with holderread and Sand Hill for more welsh harlequins and runners
What do you want ducks for?
There is no bad breed of ducks, but some breeds are meant for specific purposes. All make good pets. Some are better egg layers. Some are better meat birds.
How big a space do you have to keep them in? Ducks come in different sizes and the great big ones need a bigger space than the itty bitty tiny ones.
There are many color options. You can get ducks in the color that appeals to you.
There is no bad breed of ducks, but some breeds are meant for specific purposes. All make good pets. Some are better egg layers. Some are better meat birds.
How big a space do you have to keep them in? Ducks come in different sizes and the great big ones need a bigger space than the itty bitty tiny ones.
There are many color options. You can get ducks in the color that appeals to you.
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