Chickens or Ducks? Pros and Cons please

[Wifezilla]

Aren't ducks seasonal layers?

I had a khaki who laid every day through the winter. My runner lays every day. My buff started laying in February and will until late fall.

Runners and khaki's can be counted on to lay over 300 eggs per year. A buff, over 200.

How do the 2 types of eggs taste in comparison? Could a person mistake the flavor of one for the other?

My husband can't tell the difference. I think the duck eggs are richer.

How do they overwinter? How cold hardy?

VERY. They have a hutch, but still insisted on being in the yard in the snow even during heavy storms

--Can they eat the same grain/nutrient mix as chickens?

I feed mine game bird feed. They can eat chicken feed, but have a higher niacin requirement. You can add brewer's yeast to their portion of the feed.

 

[FarmerChick]

DH and I were discussing having chickens or ducks the other day. I had a few ducks years ago for a summer and I really liked their eggs and they are quite cute...

So when it comes to eggs why would you choose one over the other?

When it comes to eggs, it is a matter of personal taste.

I don't like duck eggs. I don't like the taste for me so I don't have ducks. I just stick with regular layers.

And while chickens never shut up, yikes, ducks to me are a noise ordinance harzard..HA HA HA...their quacking drives me up a wall..HA HA

And I don't eat much duck meat. I live on chicken...LOL.....so it is what do you truly want them for?

List why you want a critter, then head toward the one you truly desire for your reasoning.......let us know what you get!!!!

 

[hennypenny9]

I like both chickens and ducks. I can't tell their eggs apart other than size. But trust the person who says to scramble them before baking with them!

As far as upkeep... Chickens will demolish anything green. Anything. But they go to sleep at night. Ducks make everything mud. They don't destroy grass the same way as chickens, though. Our ducks never go to sleep the same as chickens. They run around the pen all night quaking like nuts. (Maybe mine are weird, though)

Although I like ducks, for me they are too wet. They make everything wet. We are mostly under shade, though. So nothing really dries out. But they are water fowl, so this is normal. My aunt had runner ducks under her raspberry patch to eat bugs, fertilize, and eat berries that fell. Useful things. The person who said that ducks can be picky is right, too.

Think about your situation, and the different characteristics and you'll be able to choose. Or get both, but don't keep them in the same brooder!

 

[me&thegals]

Well, nuts, Mackay! Now look what you've gone and done!!! I never thought I was in danger of wanting ducks, but this thread has got me contemplating it.

 

[farmerlor]

Well, nuts, Mackay! Now look what you've gone and done!!! I never thought I was in danger of wanting ducks, but this thread has got me contemplating it.

See, that's what happens!!!! I was quite content with my chickens and then Wifezilla kept on and on about how wondrous her duckies were and showed the pics of her little cuties and darn if I didn't go and get some Cayuga and Swedish and Call eggs to hatch. Now I'm hatching Pilgrim geese and thinking about Buffs!!! It's contagious, run while you still can!!

 

[Home Maker]

From what I've read, ducks are much more cold-tolerant and fare slightly better with some predators. They really need water to splash around in to be at their happiest.

There was a good article in Organic Gardening about ducks and geese in the July/August 1997 issue. I've wanted ducks ever since reading it. Perhaps you could find an archive containing it on line.

 

[Wifezilla]

While many ducks don't require a pond, they do love to play in the water.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbDpqMB_tRU&feature=channel_page
You don't have to build them a pond like we did. A kiddie pool is fine.

 

[Home Maker]

Wifezilla, I watched your video. They were having such a great time in the water.

I want ducks!

 

[patandchickens]

Another difference, if you have multiple roosters they will possibly fight with each other and probably wear the hens' backs bare, but they will NOT gang-rape hens half to death the way drakes (male ducks) do... :/

Pat

 

[inchworm]

Personally, I don't like duck eggs. They are fine mixed into things, but taste really odd cooked as an egg.

I have many friends with ducks and chickens. Ducks seem to make better prey. While it can be easy to lose a chicken to a fox as well, ducks just seem better at getting killed. Just my observation. May not be true.