Ducks offer fresh eggs, lean meat, pest and weed control, and are just fun to watch palling around. Learn more in Raising Ducks and Geese: A Homesteader’s Guide to Waterfowl.
Ancona
Eggs Per Year: 210 to 280
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 6 Female: 6.5
Excellent at foraging and a calm temperament
Aylesbury
Eggs Per Year 35 to 125
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 10 Female: 9
Good at foraging and calm temperament.
Buff
Eggs Per Year 150 to 220
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 8 Female: 7
Good at foraging and calm temperament.
Campbell
Eggs Per Year 250 to 340
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 4.5 Female: 4
Excellent at foraging and excitable temperament.
Cayuga
Eggs Per Year 100 to 150
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 8 Female: 7
Excellent foraging and docile temperament.
Magpie
Eggs Per Year 220 to 290
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 6 Female: 5.5
Excellent foraging and excitable temperament.
Muscovy
Eggs Per Year 50 to 125
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 12 Female: 7
The male temperament is aggressive but the females are docile both are excellent at foraging.
Pekin
Eggs Per Year 100 to 180
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 10 Female: 8
Fair foraging and docile temperament
Rouen
Eggs Per Year 125 to 160
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 8 Female: 7
Good foraging and docile temperaments.
Runner
Eggs Per Year 150 to 300
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 8 Female: 7
Good foraging and docile temperament.
Saxony
Eggs Per Year 190 to 240
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 9 Female: 8
Good foraging and docile temperament.
Silver Appleyard
Eggs Per Year 200 to 265
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 8 Female: 6
Good foraging and calm temperament.
Swedish
Eggs Per Year 100 to 150
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 8 Female: 7
Good foraging and docile temperament.
Welsh Harlequin
Eggs Per Year 250 to 330
Live Weight in Pounds Male: 6 Female: 5
Good foraging and docile temperament.
The Holderread Waterfowl Farm & Preservation Center in Corvallis, Ore., has bred and conserved domestic waterfowl for over 50 years. Order top-notch day-olds and mature birds at the Holderread Farm.
Since 1977, the Livestock Conservancy has worked to protect endangered heritage livestock breeds, preserving genetic diversity and safeguarding food systems from monoculture while promoting beautiful, historic animal lines. Learn more at the Livestock Conservancy
In addition to running a family farm, Gail Damerow is the author of several books.
