All About Ducks!

Here is information about raising ducks, how we build our aviaries, domestic breed standards, special accommodations for exotics, pest and predator management, etc.

Duck Breeds

  • Dutch Hookbill

    Hookbills have small, flighted bodies, with narrow hips and long legs. They have a distinctive downward curving bill of exceptionally long length, green eggs, a small head and are fully flighted. Due to a decline in popularity, limited genetic diversity combined with poor breeding, and the overall difficulty of hatching waterfowl, these birds are increasingly harder to find.

    More About Dutch Hookbills 

  • Cayuga

    Large full body birds are desirable, with thick heads and necks. Both sexes look similar having full green iridescent bodies, black bills, black tongues and black feet. Hens lay black or dark grey eggs and are very good mothers when allowed to nest. Older hens tend to get white feathering as they age, but it is undesirable in males and all juvenile birds.

    More About Cayuga 

  • Aylesbury

    These birds are held in high esteem for their large size and unusual pink bill and pink skin color. Today, standard bred show specimans have a greater size and deep, pendulous keel that brushes the ground. These birds require a diet high in vitamin A and D3.

  • Saxony

    Large birds with wide chests and bright orange coloring are especially desirable for breeders. The hens usually make good mothers when allowed to sit. Drakes have a deep blue head and dark chestnut body.

    More About Saxony 

  • Silver Appleyard

    These are active foragers and the best egg layers among heavyweight breeds. Hens make good mothers when allowed to sit a nest. 

    More About Appleyard 

  • Exhibition Rouen

    These ducks were variously called “Rhone,” for an area in southwest France, “Rohan,” for a Catholic Cardinal, “Roan,” a mixture of colors, and finally “Rouen,” for a town in north-central France.

    Rouen Breed Standards 

  • Exhibition Pekin

    This is a show bird, much larger in size than the commercial or hatchery variety. Really friendly with a docile temperament and big loose plumage. This breed makes and excellent pet and is among the worst foragers.

  • Campbell and Harlequin

    Khaki Campbell, Welsh Harliquin and Dark Campbell are genetically identical birds with a single color mutation. Other color varieties include Abacot Ranger, Frost Ranger, Gold Harliquin, Overberg and bibbed. A good line will average 300 eggs per duck per year.

  • Magpie

    Black-and-white,

    Blue-and-white,

    Dun-and-white,

    Chocolate-and-white

  • Swedish

    Blue, Black, Brown, Silver, Splash

    Large bodies with symmetrical, well defined bibs are desirable. Blue birds should had a deep coloring with darker lacing.

  • Crested

  • Orpington Buff

    Similar in conformation to the Cayuga, with a slightly longer body and bill. Many are significantly under standard weight, with short bills and excessively concave topline. Valuable birds are full size with long straight bills and heads suggestive of their runner heritage.

  • Muscovy

    This species is native to Mexico and South America. The hens make excellent mothers, with eggs averaging 35 days to hatch. This is one of the largest wild duck species with many feral populations established. Show specimens have good conformation, textured facial caruncling, and dark lacing on the plumage.

  • Runner

    Runners have a wine-bottle shape with long necks. An exhibition Runner is smooth, slender, and nearly vertical. The taller the bird and the longer and straighter the bill, the better. Runners need plenty of exercise and proper nutrition. Runners with good type are genetically willowy when well fed. They are among the best foragers.

    More About Runners 

  • Ancona

    This breed was most likely developed from the same stock as Magpie. Ancona are bigger than Magpie, with their primary feature a distinctive broken plumage pattern. This is an excellent laying breed. The legs and feet are orange with black markings. Breeders with a patch of color under the eyes and broken patterns on the wings and chest provide the most varied ducklings.

Which Duck is Best?

Bantam Ducks

  • Call Ducks

  • East Indies

  • Snowy Mallard

  • Miniature Swedish

  • Miniature Appleyard
Duck Shows and Competitions

Raising Ducks

Do ducks needs a pond?

Can you eat the eggs?

Why did the ducklings disappear?

Can ducks get lice?

Are ducks friendly?

Common Duck Questions

General Information

  • Raising Ducklings*

    Ducklings need to be kept warm, dry and safe from predators.

    Read Full Article 

  • Wing and Leg Disorders*

    Angel wing, bow leg, bumblefoot

  • Common Predators*

    Crows will eat ducklings.

    Eagles can fly off with a full grown Duck.

    Keeping Ducks Safe 

  • Pests and Injuries*

    Injuries, infection, flystrike, lice

  • Avian Genetics and Breeding*

  • Foundation Drakes*

    Quality drakes can improve the genetics of the entire flock!

    Read More 

  • Colors and Recessive Traits*

  • Hatching Tips and Tricks

    Let the ducks do it...

    Waterfowl Eggs 

  • Meat and Eggs*

    Cooking Duck Eggs 

  • Hawks and Snakes

    Underappreciated Help 

  • NPIP and What it Means*

  • Rotating Pasture*

  • Building Secure Pens*

    Aviary and Cage Designs 

  • Fungus and Bacterium*

    Aspergillosis

    Botulism

    Pasturella

  • Hybrids and Crosses*

  • Terms and Definitions*

    Drake: the male duck

    Raft: a tight group of swimming ducks

    More 

  • Candling Eggs*

    More 

  • Livestock Guardian Dogs*

    More About LGDs 

  • Broody Hens*

    Nesting Ducks 

  • Feeding and Overfeeding*

* Article not uploaded or not completed

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Our Domestic Geese

  • Brown Chinese

  • Saddleback Pomeranian

  • Giant African

  • Pilgrim

  • Buff Dewlap Toulouse
More About Geese

Exotic Waterfowl

Primarily kept as ornamental birds in private aviaries and collections. These birds are beautiful to look at, have pleasant chatter and some species even whistle!

Wild Ducks and Geese

  • Wood Ducks

  • Andean Geese

  • Egyptian Geese

  • Mandarin

    This brightly colored duck originated in East Asia and Japan. There are several established feral populations around the world. A common ornamental in aviary collections, also available in a white variety.

  • White Face Tree Duck

    Tree ducks are one of the few species that have not adapted to fully tuck their feet into their feathers. Their toes are especially susceptible to frostbite and extra care should be given to their aviaries in colder climates.

  • Bahama Pintail

    A species of dabbling duck native to South American, both the male and female look similar with white cheeks and bright red marking on the bill. There is a silver variety.

  • Cape Barren Geese

  • Black Belly Tree Duck

  • Australian Black Swan

  • Mute Swans

    More About Swans 

  • Red Breasted Goose

  • Additional Exotics

    Paradise Shelduck

    Common Shelduck

    Radjah Shelduck

    Eytoni Tree Duck

    Ring Teal

    Marble Teal

    Barnacle Geese

    Abby Geese

    Magellan Geese

    Ruddy Shelduck

    Read More