[SheepMad95]

Evening all! I'm thinking about getting some ducks. Never had them before so got some questions.
At the moment I have chickens it's sort of a hobby/ doing it for breeding to pay for my hobby!
So my first question is, when is the best time to sell a duck? And how much can you expect to get?
What's the best breed/s to have??
Do they eat layers pellets or do I have to buy them duck food??
If I decide to incubate some eggs, what temp? And how many days?
Do ducks go broody a often as hens?

I know that they need water near by when they are eating, and obviously need a pond/ big tub to have a splash in!!

Anything else I should know and any tips please??

Thanks in advance! 

[Porterlauren]

I don't know a huge amount about ducks, we've only got half a dozen domestics, three Khaki Campbells and three Abacot Rangers (one a drake).

But I guess the answer to your first question is similar to any other poultry, people either want hatching eggs, day olds, off heat growers or point of lay birds (apart from maybe folk buying new breeding stock etc).

Prices also seem similar to chooks, and depends what you are selling I guess, I.e if its rare or sought after.

Not sure there is a 'best' breed of anything, but in my limited experience the more popular layers are Khaki Campbells, Indian Runners, Cherry Valleys etc. And then for meat, stuff like Aylesburys.

But a lot of folk sell those types, so maybe go for something different. I find the Abacot Rangers really pretty, they lay well, and would probably make a decent enough table bird, Welsh Harlequins are also cool.

I feed all my birds layers pellets and mixed corn, to be fair the ducks lay better than the chickens.

The next one . . . don't know, google it!

And I don't think so, they don't make very good broods anyway.

Mine have a paddling pool I empty and refill every morning and a separate drinker, they LOVE the water, and like you said, need it to clean their eyes and nose vents.

Personally I think ducks beat chickens hands down, better eggs and better characters!

[Somewhere_by_the_river]

It's a good idea to research breeds carefully, especially if you want to breed from them to sell - some require deeper water for the purpose (the heavier breeds) or you won't get fertile eggs. Be careful if you go for Aylesburys as there aren't many 100% pure ones out there as many have been interbred with Pekins for quicker meat yields - if it's got an orange beak it's not Aylesbury and a lot of people have been miss-sold white ducks as such (as we, and they, found out when we were trying to buy some).
Muscovy's, apparently, make good broodies, artificially incubating duck eggs can be a bit hit and miss...
I'm sure there are 100s of TASers out there with more knowledge than me, just wanted to share what little I did know...

[clydesdaleclopper]

If you feed them chicken layers pellets instead of a waterfowl ration you need to supplement them with brewers yeast to meet their niacin requirements.

[HesterF]

Choose a breed you like. You have to make sure you have a lot more space available for them than you need for chickens - they can turn a small area to mud in no time in the rain. I breed Silver Appleyards and Cayugas and have one Utility Aylesbury (only hatched one from six!). I chose the Appleyards because they're a good dual purpose breed - great laying and great eating. I just loved the look of Cayugas but they've turned out to be good layers too - so far at least (only hatched them last year). Husband wanted the Aylesburys but I think they're too heavy - she just looks uncomfortable with the heavy keel.

I think they sell for slightly less than pure breed chickens. I'd pay £30 to £40 for a POL hen but haven't paid over £20 for a duck (although most of mine came from hatching eggs - I've only bought four ducks and a drake).

They can eat layers (I phoned Marriages to check!) but I get specialist waterfowl pellets for them - breeders at this time of year and just growers the rest of the year.

Incubating - same temp as chickens but might need a different humidity. You have to do it by weight loss - the eggs I'm incubating at the moment (late season) need a higher humidity than I had earlier in the season. The membranes are thicker when it's colder so it's harder for them to lose the moisture they need to.

Re.broodies - it depends on the breed, much as it does with chickens. I've never had a broody duck but the Appleyards in particular were bred to be good layers, much like hybrid hens which don't often go broody.

I think it's harder to get ducks to pay their way - I don't sell as many duck eggs either and they really do churn them out at this time of year. Great for baking though - you're best off finding people who bake a lot to buy them!

[northfifeduckling]

My ducks go broody very determinedly this season. I think the younger ones have the stronger urges  Ducks tend to gather a nest together, then one decides to make attempts to sit and see if it's safe just for a few hours a day.  Suddenly she disappears and a few weeks later, Bingo!

It will say on the packet of pellets you use if they are suitable for ducks. Chick crumbs are not suitable for ducklings (duckling starter I bought on-line).

There are some lovely breeds available, I started with what I inherited from someone, KCampbells and one Indian Runner, now I have a very funny mix of breeds indeed....if I'd start again I would probably get Appleyards or Cayugas.

Good luck!

[lord flynn]

I don't know a huge amount about ducks, we've only got half a dozen domestics, three Khaki Campbells and three Abacot Rangers (one a drake).

sorry to hijack but where are you Porterlauren? I am after some Abacot Rangers later in the year and can't find any breeders up Norht?

[Porterlauren]

We're in south wales . . . . I've all been trying to find some, but to know luck, might try to hatch a few eggs.

[twizzel]

I've got 3 White Campbells. They lay well and are good natured. Trying desperately to hatch out some ducklings but my broody hen has failed miserably... so loading the incubator up tomorrow once the bad weather has settled (we are prone to power cuts).

I bought my 2 ducks for £35 at the local poultry sale, my drake was £8 private sale. I'm hoping to hatch out and sell as point of lay ducks... not so interested in the eggs as whilst I love them to bake with, I can't shift them to any of my normal chicken egg customers 

[goosepimple]

We have Muscovies (genetically nearer a goose) and they won't want to hatch anyone else's eggs except Muscovy, they'll throw them out, they're great mums albeit a bit dosey with their first ever hatch and sometimes produce up to 3 hatches (usually 2) in a season, they don't lay all year, tail off about September until Feb.  If you get them at auction you'll get them at a snip as people get inundated with offspring but the lavender ones (grey) go for most money.


Averagely ducks go for about the same as hens at auction.


Call ducks - cute but noisey if you have neighbours and you'd have to hatch in an incubator or a broody hen may do (we have one doing this presently).  An all white female may go for around £35 at auction.


Both Calls and Muscovies fly - personally I'm against clipping, flying is a gift and there are plenty other breeds (most in fact) that don't fly, so if you don't want flyers, plenty to choose from.  They don't fly away though, just around and about, they know where home is.  Eggs, Calls produce a bantam size and Muscovy a big duck egg with a concrete shell and jelly fish in the middle - my OH loves them for poached egg on toast as they stay together in the pan, don't thread out.


Yes you can provide a bath for a splash, a home made pond is a hassle to keep, we're lucky we have a mill pond with a river tailing in one side of it and out the other (a loop off the river if you like) so it has a through flow.  If you do a splash around you should change it every couple of weeks but provide a 'dooking bucket' - a normal bucket with water to the brim, so they can get their heads under and throw it back over themselves and drink from it.  It should be changed every day.


You will only make pennies from ducks, same as chickens.


We had White Campbells and Runners in the past, they all got taken here by otter - if you have a water course near you tis likely you'll get something using it as a highway which will take non flyers. 


Ducks are messy - all that water, watery poo (not like chickens) but they have brilliant social antics that keep you entertained, I'd rather have ducks than hens for lots of reasons.


Do a bit of research but you just need to give it a go - a shed is fine for nights - ours roost in trees and on fences as they fly so we don't house them at night.  Don't go to expense initially, they'll fit in whatever but if they don't fly they are a target and you may only get one night in and they're away.


Have a go, it's the best way to learn 

[Porterlauren]

Why oh why do so few people eat duck eggs? I think it's one of those weird things when people THINK they don't like them, but never try them. I pretty much only eat duck eggs now, and apart from having a bigger and thicker yolk, I don't see the difference? They are just a better version of a chicken egg.

[northfifeduckling]

We love them, too - the bigger yolk is sooo nice. Duck eggs have some serious followers here but not enough! I can't keep up with baking and pasta making at the mo....and I'm supposed to loose weight at the same time, impossible 

[Porterlauren]

I just kept giving people duck eggs and converting them, and now I can't keep up with folk wanting them, so I really do think its just a mental block.

Ducks also seem hardier than chickens, and have a better social structure.

[lord flynn]

I love ducks, had them as a kid and have wanted them since we had our own place-love duck eggs I thought about muscovies, which I love, but its not the right place for them. Abacots seem to fit the bill (and they are very pretty) nicely-hadn't heard of them until a neighbour asked me to enquire about them. Now it looks like I'll have to set up a complicated transport relay from one of the winter poultry shows down south.

[Porterlauren]

Well worth it matey, they are stunning, good layers and i've found mine quick to get tame.