The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: WarescotFarm on August 15, 2012, 10:58:49 am
-
I am looking to add some ducks to our flock of chickens.
I am after a small breed that does ok for egg laying.
Any ideas? I heard Call ducks are the smallest but not good layers?
thanks :farmer:
-
:wave: Hi, we have chickens and have just got some ducks - 2 Aylesbury - lay eggs but not too many and are a larger duck, 2 Khaki Campbells - smaller duck and lay lots of eggs! Had for 2 weeks and the Khakis are laying well already! Great fun to watch and great characters. Good luck and have fun! :chook: :dog: :&>
-
We have runners, khakis and a mix of the two! All good layers, and not massive birds. We have some runners in the garden at the moment and are really fascinating to watch. They are getting pretty friendly as well, which has been unusual as our others, aren't bothered about us at all.
Helen
-
Get some runners! They're not massive by any means, they lay well, and are endlessly entertaining - basically the closest thing you can get to having your very own flock of penguins ;D .
(http://www.hawk-conservancy.org/images/Friends/flora%20and%20fauna-running%20ducks.jpg)
Also, they don't seem to like swimming quite as much as our other ducks, which means they'd be happier in a back garden with a shower tray or similar rather than a permanent pond.
-
Thanks everyone, runners it is! ;D
-
Can I put in a word for my Minature Apricots. They are pretty good layers, almost one a day each in the season from about feb, but come July August tend to go broody, but they do make terrific Mums, and all of mine carry the cresting gene, so you could get one like this :eyelashes:
The males are not rapists and though they will cope with several females are equally happy as pairs, plus the flock is quiet except for feeding time (can't stand endlessly quacking ducks). They are small enough that they don't damage the garden when hunting for slugs, but any spare males carry plenty of meat of a very good flavour (apologies to those who don't eat their own birds, but I am from a generation which admired the utility qualities of poultry :) )
Of all the breeds of ducks I have kept I have found these to be the best for my purposes.
I do have some spares this year - so if anyone is interested please PM
-
mallard cross pekins great layers not too big not too small i have 7 2month old ducklings left to go need a good home and love the water
-
After much humming and hawing ( ....and a fair bit of research )we went with the Runners.
-
Miniature silver appleyards are fab......pretty to look at, quieter than most miniature ducks and lay large blue eggs.
-
Do they need a big pond? We just have a paddling pool at the moment
Any pics?
-
I just uploaded some pics into the marketplace section, they would be very happy with a paddling pool.....I often employ some ducks to clear my veg garden of pests.....they usually stay in there for a week at a time and just have a baby bath with a ramp. Any small pool will need cleaning regularly.....how often really depends on how many ducks you keep. If I have a trio in my veg garden I usually reckon to empty (good for the veggies :eyelashes:) and refill every other day.
My girls average 165 eggs each/yr , they usually start laying earlier in the year than my bantam hens too.
-
I love all my ducks, IRs, KCs and the crosses that came with a half Call. All her descendants are very loud!
Womble, your Runners are gab fab! Stunners! My girls are slowing down just now but usually take me through the winter when the hens don't lay.
I'd love to have some black East Indian Bantam ducks one day. I fell in love with them at the Fife show.... :&>
-
oh i LOVE ducks too!
We have Rapunzel the Magpie duck who has been hand raised by my 4 year old - she is the loveliest thing ever (but HUGE)
Everyday I watch those tail feathers thinking please be a girl please be a girl!
Need another batch to hatch
Our runners were all sold at 10 days old :excited: but now we want more for us
Rapunzel lives with the chooks and must think she is one ;D
-
We have runners in with the chickens and they get on ok now the ducks are bigger but they did get bullied in the beginning :chook: :bunny: :&>