Domestic ducks are one of the best types of pets you can own. Domestic ducks also make great pets for adults and children alike.
They’re fun to watch, their eggs are delicious, and they’re fun to play with! However, before you bring your own domestic duck home, you must know which type you want to get.
You don’t want to bring home 15 different breeds if you aren’t prepared to care for them all! Here are the top 15 domestic duck breeds that are worth considering.
1. Abacot Ranger
The Abacot Ranger is one of the domestic duck breeds developed in England in the early 1900s. The breed was created by crossing the Blue Swedish with the Khaki Campbell. The resulting ducks were larger than either parent breed and had good egg-laying abilities.
Furthermore, Abacot Rangers are one of the most popular duck breeds in the world today. They have been exported to many countries and used extensively for hybridization purposes.
One of the reasons for this popularity is that they can be kept as pets. Also, they are not aggressive towards humans like some duck breeds.
2. American Pekin
The American Pekin is a large, stocky duck that originated in China. The American Pekin was brought to Long Island, New York, in 1872. Since then, it has become one of North America’s most popular duck breeds.
Furthermore, Pekins are known for their white plumage and orange bill and feet. These ducks are excellent egg-layers, producing up to 200 eggs per year. Pekins are also good for meat production, with a mature duck weighing 8-9 pounds.
Although you can raise them on a wide variety of diets, they are typically fed corn and soybean meal, and these meals provide them with ample protein. Pekins should not be raised near wild birds because they can carry avian diseases.
For instance, Newcastle disease or psittacosis, which may infect other poultry. However, the American Pekin is still one of the most productive domestic duck breeds.
3. Ancona Duck
The Ancona duck is a relatively new breed developed in Italy in the late 1800s. It’s a great choice for those looking for a dual-purpose duck, as it’s good for both eggs and meat.
Anconas are also excellent swimmers and flyers; they’ll be right at home if you have a pond or lake on your property.
Also, they lay about 120-150 eggs annually and grow around 20 pounds. However, they’re not ideal for cold climates because their feathers aren’t as thick as other domestic duck breeds.
4. Australian Call Duck
The Australian Call Duck is a relatively new breed developed in the 1970s. They are smaller than most other duck breeds, with males weighing around 1.5 pounds and females at 2 pounds.
They are also one of the quietest domestic duck breeds, making them ideal for urban areas. Furthermore, Australian Call Ducks come in various colors, including white, black, blue, and silver.
Their feathers have more of a sheen than other breeds, and their bills have a slight curve. Unlike many other ducks, they do not require as much food or water.
5. Black East Indie Duck
The Black East Indie duck is a medium-sized breed known for its glossy black plumage. This duck is an excellent layer of eggs and can produce up to 200 eggs annually. The Black East Indie duck is a good forager and does well in free-range conditions.
However, the Black East Indie duck is a great option if you’re looking for a dual-purpose breed that can provide eggs and meat. These ducks have a docile temperament and are also suitable as pets.
6. Blue Swedish Duck
The Blue Swedish is a beautiful blue-feathered duck popular in North America and Europe. They’re known for being friendly and good around children, making them a great choice for families. Blue Swedes are also excellent swimmers and can often swim in ponds and lakes.
Furthermore, The Blue Swedish is a great choice if you’re looking for domestic duck breeds that are both beautiful and friendly.
Not only do they make great pets, but they’re also wonderful to look at with their gorgeous blue feathers. Plus, they’re quite active, so this breed will never get bored or stressed from lack of stimulation!
7. Buff Duck
The Buff Duck is one of the popular domestic duck breeds originally developed in England. The Buff Duck is a heavy duck, with the males weighing around 9 pounds and the females around 7 pounds. The Buff Duck is an excellent layer and can lay up to 200 eggs annually.
Additionally, The Buff Duck is a good forager and does well on a free-range diet. They are quite calm, even when most other ducks would struggle in cold weather. Also, Buff ducks do not suffer frostbite because of their thick down feathers.
Also, they prefer cold climates because it slows down the growth of feather lice. Many people have bred the Buff Duck over time for its unusual coloring. For instance, some varieties include silver and gold varieties.
8. Campbell Duck
Campbell ducks are a hybrid breed created by crossing the Khaki Campbell and the Indian Runner duck. They’re excellent egg layers, producing up to 280 eggs per year. They’re good for meat production, too – a single duck can yield up to 4 pounds of meat.
Furthermore, Campbell ducks are also known for being friendly and easy to handle. You can consider them a great choice for those new to keeping ducks. Also, they do well in groups and don’t need as much room as other domestic duck breeds might require.
Also, Campbell ducks come in two color varieties: black and white or blue. Which of these domestic duck breeds do you find amusing?
9. Cayuga Duck
The Cayuga duck is a beautiful bird that’s black with green and purple iridescence. They’re native to North America and were first bred in New York in the early 1800s. Cayuga ducks are excellent foragers and make great pets.
Also, The Cayuga is a great choice if you’re looking for a beautiful, hardy duck. However, the downside of this breed is its high egg production. Also, the Cayuga duck will lay more eggs than other domestic duck breeds.
As a result, you need to have plenty of space or consider culling them every year. Because these ducks are prolific layers, they are not popular as other domestic duck breeds.
Also, many people enjoy raising them. They produce a high-quality white-shelled egg with an orange yolk (rare among all breeds).
10. Crested Duck
Crested ducks are a type of domestic duck that is characterized by the presence of a crest of feathers on their head. These ducks are relatively small and have black bills and yellow eyes. Crested ducks are good swimmers and can often be seen swimming in ponds and lakes.
Furthermore, these ducks are also known for their docile nature, making them a popular choice as pets. They can fly short distances, but they do not typically fly high. They are a calm breed and easy to care for.
However, these ducks need to be protected from predators due to their small size. If you’re considering raising any of these domestic duck breeds, try the Crested duck!
11. Dutch Hookbill Duck
The Dutch HookBill is one of the popular domestic duck breeds known for its orange bill and feet. This duck is also known for being a good layer of eggs and can lay up to 200 eggs annually.
The Dutch HookBill is a hardy breed that can withstand cold weather and is also known for being a good forager.
If you’re looking for a duck that is good for both egg production and meat, the Dutch HookBill is a great choice. They are also hardy, which makes them a great option if you live in an area with tough winters.
In addition to laying lots of eggs and surviving tough winters, the Dutch HookBill is also known for being a good forager.
12. Golden Cascade
The Golden Cascade is one of the domestic duck breeds developed in the United States in the early 1900s.
The breed was created by crossing several different types of ducks, including the White Pekin, Blue Swedish, and Aylesbury.
The Golden Cascade is a large duck, with males weighing up to 12 pounds and females up to 10 pounds. Also, the breed is known for its beautiful golden plumage and is popular for exhibitions and backyard ducks.
They are also strong egg layers, producing an average clutch size of about 18 eggs per year. While they may not be as hardy as some other breeds, their friendly disposition makes them easy to keep around.
13. Indian Runner
The Indian Runner is one of the domestic duck breeds developed in the Netherlands. These ducks are known for their upright stance and long, slender necks. Indian Runners are excellent egg-layers and are also used for meat production.
Additionally, this breed is considered one of the best ducks for novice duck keepers. Some people have been trained to walk on a leash or follow the owner. They are also smart enough to figure out how to use a food dish instead of going through slop.
One downside about this breed is that it can get quite noisy at night because it needs plenty of sleep. Female Indian Runners can lay between 75 and 100 eggs annually, with larger birds laying more eggs than smaller ones.
14. Muscovy Duck
The Muscovy duck is a large, heavy duck with a long body and neck. The male Muscovy duck can weigh up to 12 pounds, while the female Muscovy duck only weighs about 8 pounds.
The Muscovy duck is an excellent swimmer and can even fly short distances. Furthermore, the Muscovy duck is known for its ability to mate with many different ducks.
The Muscovy has led to it being considered an invasive species in some parts of the world. The Muscovy duck is one to consider if you’re looking for unique domestic duck breeds!
15. Silver Appleyard Duck
The Silver Appleyard is one of the British domestic duck breeds. The Silver Appleyard duck was created in the 1930s by Reginald Appleyard from two other breeds, the Aylesbury and the Rouen.
The Silver Appleyard is a large duck, with the males weighing about 8 kg (18 lb) and the females about 6.5 kg (14 lb).
Additionally, the drakes have a silver-grey plumage with black on the head and tail; the hens are brownish-grey. Both sexes have orange legs and feet. The Silver Appleyard is kept for its meat and its eggs; it is also kept as an ornamental bird.
Conclusion
There are many different domestic duck breeds, each with unique characteristics. This blog post highlighted the top 15 domestic duck breeds you should know about in this blog post.
Whether you’re looking for a new pet or want to learn more about these amazing animals, we hope this list has been helpful. Thanks for reading!
