10 Best Backyard Duck Breeds: Egg Layers & Temperament

Should you be thinking about adding a feathery friend to your backyard, a pet duck could be ideal.

Apart from their beauty and amusement value, ducks are excellent buddies. But with so many duck varieties available, choosing one that would be ideal for your garden can be taxing. For backyards, they are fantastic compared to egg-laying hens or chicken types since ducks possess both of these features.

This page will help you choose the best duck breeds for your backyard, whether your search is for a breed that thrives in a tiny area, one with excellent eggs, or just a pleasant and low-maintenance pet.

For backyard aficionados looking for a cheap and useful waterfowl friend, the Magpie Duck is a great alternative. These medium-sized ducks appeal with their grace by wearing a unique black-and-white color scheme. Magpies, well-known for their prodiveness in laying eggs, can create between 220,290 big white eggs a year.

Their quiet nature fits family environments, and their effective foraging techniques help to eliminate pests. For eggs or company, the Magpie duck is a unique selection for backyard duck keeping because of its adaptability and kind nature.

Renowned for its pristine white plumage and unusual orange bill, the Pekin duck. These placid and loving ducks are wonderful friends; thus, they are ideal as pet ducks kept in the backyard. Though not the most prolific egg layers, they provide a decent 140–200 big white annual count.

Pekins are strong and beautiful, as their adult weight is really high—between 3.5 and 5.4 kg. Living in a range of environments, its ability to adjust to different temperatures adds to its popularity as a preferred backyard duck breed.

For backyard raising, the Muscovy duck breed is a great choice since it sticks out with its unique look and stunning plumage variances, including a red face caruncle. Muscovy ducks are sociable and peaceful, so they make ideal friends.

Apart from company, muscovy ducks produce between 80 and 120 eggs a year. Their attraction for meat and eggs stems from their heavier weight—between 2.7 and 4.5 kg. An excellent addition to backyard flocks, muscovy ducks thrive in a range of temperatures and adapt to many environments.

The Ancona Duck is a wonderful breed with an appealing appearance that stands out for its remarkable black and white speckled plumage. Originating from Italy, this medium-sized duck lays over 210–280 big white eggs per year.

Celebrated for its friendliness, the Ancona Duck fits quite nicely in many environments. Backyard aficionados looking for both company and a steady supply of fresh, large eggs find it a popular choice because of its adaptability and disposition.

Another great duck variety to grow in a backyard is the mallard. This duck looks great with its brownish body, white neck ring, and vivid green head. Families with young children would find mallards appropriate since they are recognized for their quiet and sociable demeanour.

Given their around 200–300 annual production, they are also dependable egg layers. Mallards are medium-sized ducks; males weigh between two and three kg, while females are somewhat smaller. They flourish in both warm and cold surroundings and are flexible enough to suit many climates and temperature preferences.

Though a highly active and inquisitive breed, the Indian Runner is well-known for its unique straight posture and lean frame. Perfect foragers may be depended upon to eat insects, snails, and other pests in the garden, therefore providing ideal natural pest control.

With about 200–300 eggs annually, Indian Runners are also rather abundant egg layers. Backyard duck aficionados choose them mostly because of their laid-back attitude and friendliness, as well as their adaptation to several climates.

Backyard aficionados would find the Orpington duck to be a great choice given its elegant and pleasing look. Renowned for its cool-headedness and friendliness, it gives any flock a peaceful atmosphere. Although not the most abundant egg layer, they average between 150 and 220 big white eggs a year.

With its quite large weight—between 3.5 and 4.5 kg—the Orpington makes up fewer eggs. A wonderful and well-rounded addition to home duckkeeping, this flexible breed shows resistance to temperature swings and thrives in many environments.

For everyone looking for a pet duck, the Swedish Blue Duck is a great choice. This type is not only aesthetically pleasing but also manageable, given its brilliant blue plumage and soft demeanor. Pets of them are delights since of their amiable and gregarious nature.

Families with children or anybody seeking a quiet friend might find Swedish blues appropriate since they are well-known for their cool headiness. They are also quite flexible and fit for many climates, which helps in both urban and rural settings.

An excellent duck variety for keeping as a pet or in your backyard garden is the Silver Appleyard. Its silver plumage, orange feet, and bill highlight a stunning look. Families would be much better off choosing them, as they have a calm and welcoming attitude.

Also plentiful are silver appleyards, which annually create between 200 and 280 big white eggs. Size-wise, they are regarded as medium to large ducks, which makes them an appealing addition to any backyard flock. Furthermore, they fit diverse areas since they are flexible in temperature preferences and climate.

A backyard pet would find the Golden Cascade duck variation appropriate. Excellent friends since these ducks are recognized for their placid and kind attitude. Their quite tiny scale qualifies them for backyard environments.

Excellent foragers, the Golden Cascade ducks can help eradicate slugs and snails from the yard, therefore controlling pests. Producing between 200 and 250 huge white eggs annually, they are also excellent egg layers. These ducks can flourish in a backyard with appropriate care, cover, and water availability, therefore offering both friendship and useful advantages.

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