[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi folks

  I am thinking of trying to source some duck eggs to put under my broody hen but am not sure what breed to look for. If I choose a meat bird what would you recomend and is there an optimum age to dispatch the bird? If I keep a breed for eggs instead what would be the best type in terms of noise, mess and compatability with hens.

Buffy

[Hilarysmum]

For meat ducks pure aylesburies (although hard to find I think) or Muscovies. 

[egglady]

agree wiht hilarysmum, although ducks are messy, messy, messy!  so make sure you are prepared to clean out their house at least twice a week depending on how many you have.  ours are about 6 months old and we are planning to dispatch 2 of the boys this weekend....

my friend has muscovies and they are huge if you keep them, but apparently the meat is really tasty.  they are also good mothers.

[darkbrowneggs]

I doubt if many of the meat types are laying at this time of year, so if you are looking for something now it would probably be an egg laying breed.

I keep the giant Rouen breed, but they really only lay in the spring, and not many eggs then even.

All the best
Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

[LeonardCottage]

Hi,

I've never tried getting a hen to incubate duck eggs as the temperature and humidity needs to be slightly different.  I would always recommend a Muscovy for sitting on any other duck's eggs.  Let us know how you get on.

Aylesbury or Aylesbury/Pekin make good meat ducks in my opinion and Khaki Campbell's are my favourite layer.

[CameronS]

I have 1 runner duck, and now 2 runner crosses,
they get on with the hens ok, they just dirty anywater they find, and turn the place into  a mud bath

[Castle Farm]

Silver Appleyards Utility strain.

[doganjo]

I have three times had a broody hen hatch ducklings - no problems at all except when the duckling went near water - Mum went ballistic!

[darkbrowneggs]

I have also hatched duck eggs many times under a broody hen, and put hatched ducklings a broody without problems.  The hens just hang around the edge of the pond as near as they can to the ducklings ready to brood them when they come out.  When the hen thinks they are old enough to perch (which they obviously won't do) I take the broody away

All the best
Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

PS Nice looking ducks CF

[Pony-n-trap]

I have 6 white campbells in with my bantams, they seem to stick to their half if you like and have their pond, its not too messy but the pond can stink if it goes a day or two over its regular clean out.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks folks,

   full of great advice as always ( I really like this site). So If Campbels are the best layers, does it matter if they are white or khaki? Am I likely to find any eggs or day olds at this time of year?

Buffy

[lazybee]

I have found by far the best breed is hybrid white Muscovy. They are massive. One side of a breast fillet is easily enough for for two or three servings. They are quiet and don't quack and live quite happily on maize and what ever they find there selves. I keep them semi free range in an enclosure with a anti fox fencing. They are quite prolific layers too an have kept us and the in-laws in eggs. They have just stopped laying 2 weeks ago and will start again early spring.

LB     

[egglady]

i have meat birds (hubbards) and the girls are still laying!  From 5 hens, I get 3 eggs every day just now.  I do really want them to stop as we have more eggs than i know what to do with.....but they seem to think otherwise!

hubby dispatched 2 this morning, so that should reduce the eggs a bit!

both birds were enormous - i really recommend this breed for meat

[darkbrowneggs]

Can you get Hubbard ducks then?  I thought they were just a chicken breed.

all the best
Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

[egglady]

oops! trying to 'chat' in too many different threads at the one time me thinks!!!  yup, hubbards are chickens.....egglady slides off into the corner in shame....