Light Weight: Dutch Hookbill, Campbell, Runner, Harlequin, Magpie
Medium Weight: Cayuga, Crested, Swedish, Buff Orpington, Ancona
Large Breed: Aylesbury, Saxony, Appleyard, Exhibition Rouen, Exhibition Jumbo Pekin
Rare Colors: Dark Campbell, Blue Cayuga, Frost Ranger
Light weight duck breeds are excellent eggs layers and foragers. With their small body mass, they require less supplemental feed through winter and have a high dollar-to-product conversion rate, most averaging 300 eggs per hen, per year. Small birds are less hardy than their larger cousins and are more susceptible to predation and cold.
Large breed ducks are great for show specimens and most individuals have docile temperaments, making them an excellent pet choice. Most breeds lay an average of 50 large eggs in the spring. Their loose feathering and large size can make them susceptible to "wet feather." The males may have difficulty breeding and most hens crush eggs when allowed to sit a nest. Very large birds are prone to feet problems, such as bumblefoot and oversized callouses. Quality stock can be difficult to purchase, as many birds are undersized and fail to meet breed standards.
Medium weight ducks are a good balance between egg production, size, foraging ability and show specimens, although they are not the best in any category. Most hens make excellent mothers when allowed to sit a nest. Cayugas especially are excellent show birds, with high quality specimens often winning championships; but it is also very challenging to breed those specimens.
Rare colors are a nice addition to a flock. They add some variability without damaging the breed genetics.