The 18 Best Duck Breeds That Make for Good Pets

Are you and your family ready to expand beyond chickens? Why not dive into the world of ducks? These unique and entertaining birds have plenty to offer. But with so many breeds to choose from, it can be difficult to find the perfect pet. That’s where we come in. We’ve gathered a list of the eighteen best duck breeds for pets. That way, you can quickly and easily browse through to find the breed (or breeds) that call to you.

1. Abacot Ranger

A true beginner-friendly duck breed is the Abacot Rangers. These birds are docile, friendly, and love spending time around people. Many consider them one of the tamest ducks available. 

This medium-sized breed will often live ten years or more. Drakes reach up to six pounds at maturity. And the hens are moderate egg producers. They lay around four white eggs every week. 

2. Ancona Duck

If you are looking for a calm and docile duck to keep around your kids, you’ve come to the right place. Ancona ducks are smaller (five or six pounds), so they won’t easily intimidate younger children. They are gentle and friendly homebodies that enjoy free-ranging.

Their feathering is absolutely gorgeous. Anconas have primarily white feathers tinged with a mixture of blacks, blues, silvers, and more. While these birds are dual-purpose, many people love to keep them for their egg-laying capacity. Hens will lay up to five blue or white eggs every week.

3. Black East Indian

If you want a tiny feathered friend to cuddle with, add Black East Indian ducks to your flock. These small birds top out at one and a half pounds, so they are definitely not meat birds. They are gentle and calm and enjoy the company of people and other breeds. One note of caution is that, unlike many other breeds, Black East Indian ducks love to fly. You will want to have a suitable enclosure for them before bringing them home.

This breed has magnificent black feathering, and hens will lay black or gray eggs. Don’t expect too many eggs, however. They only produce one or two weekly.

4. Cayuga Duck

The key to earning constant devotion from your Cayuga ducks is to hand-raise them. As long as you do so, they are docile and gentle birds that make fantastic pets. However, if you leave them to their own devices, they may become skittish around you. They love spending time foraging and free-ranging through the yard, so provide plenty of room for them to do so.

This breed is larger (six to eight pounds), so they don’t make great lap birds for kids. These birds have striking black feathers, which gives them an elegant appearance. Hens only lay two to three white or black eggs weekly.

5. Crested Duck

Consider adding the friendly and quiet Crested duck to your backyard flock. These beautiful birds can even become housepets! They are gentle and sweet and love being around kids and adults. Additionally, Crested ducks get along well with other breeds, so you won’t have to worry about any conflict.

They have solid-coloring feathers with a distinct crest on their head (hence the name). Since they can weigh up to eight pounds, they make great meat birds. The hens lay a moderate number (two to four) of blue or white eggs weekly.

6. Golden Cascade

Beginners will love Golden Cascade ducks. These exceptionally docile and friendly birds will put a smile on your face. They are great with adults and kids, so you can easily get used to caring for them. Plus, this breed isn’t too keen on flying. They are one of the great duck breeds for pets.

Golden Cascades are wonderful dual-purpose birds. They can weigh six or eight pounds, and hens lay around five white eggs weekly. Golden Cascades have lovely buff feathers, giving them a unique look.

7. Indian Runner

One of the most docile ducks available is the Indian Runner. These friendly birds make fantastic pets and are great to have around kids. They also don’t need an excessive amount of attention, making it easier to grow your flock. 

Additionally, since they come in fourteen different colors, you can add some distinctly beautiful birds to your backyard. Indian Runners are smaller and only weigh three to five pounds. However, the hens are prolific egg layers. You can anticipate getting up to six green or white eggs weekly.

8. Khaki Campbell

While Khaki Campbell ducks will never be lap birds, they do enjoy the companionship of their owners on occasion. These fiercely independent birds will not socialize with other breeds, however. You can expect their company periodically while they work in the yard, and they won’t act aggressively toward you. They are great pets and offer many fantastic benefits. But if you are seeking a snuggle buddy for your kids, one of the other breeds is probably better suited.

These ducks are free-range champs and adore spending time in the yard. They will provide you with up to six white eggs weekly, which is on the higher production side for ducks. Khaki Campbell’s are also on the smaller side, only reaching four pounds at maturity. 

9. Magpie Duck

Consider adding one of the gentlest and most beginner-friendly duck breeds to your flock. Magpie ducks have an easy-going disposition and love being around people. They are fantastic and gentle around kids and adults alike. You will start looking forward to their company as you work in the yard. 

They are medium-sized birds that weigh roughly five to six pounds. Their beautiful black and white feathering certainly makes them stand out in the crowd. And since this breed lays a moderate amount of eggs, you can enjoy them as pets and production birds. Expect approximately three to four blue, white, or green eggs weekly from them.

10. Mallard

The quintessential duck is the Mallard, and they make fantastic pets. Actually, they are best kept as pets or show birds. This breed isn’t great for meat production, and the hens don’t lay many eggs. The drakes don’t weigh more than two and a half pounds at maturity. And the hens lay two green or white eggs a week, tops. However, they are a joy to have around. Kids will love watching them frolic in the water.

11. Muscovy Duck

Since Muscovy ducks descend from a wild duck breed, they are initially cautious of humans. But they will warm up to your presence and enjoy spending time around you and your family. This breed is exceptionally friendly when they have a safe and happy home. It is also one of the quietest duck breeds you can find. That characteristic makes them exceedingly popular among many duck owners. The main downside is that Muscovy ducks do fly, so you will need to account for that.

They have stunning white and black feathers on their large bodies. This breed grows to around six to fifteen pounds once they hit maturity. The hens have moderate egg layers. You will get three or four cream-colored eggs every week.

12. Orpington Duck

This gentle breed is teetering toward endangered. In fact, several Orpington duck colors are now extinct. These days, you can only find three colors of this backyard favorite. Many people love keeping Orpingtons for their company, meat, and egg-laying ability.

These birds top out around eight pounds, and the hens lay up to five white eggs weekly.

13. Pekin Duck

You have most likely heard of Pekin ducks before. But what you may not know is that they were specifically bred as pets. They are a beautiful breed. However, even more importantly, they are docile and friendly. Pekin ducks are quiet, calm, and gentle with children. They adore spending time in the water and exploring the outdoors. So, make sure they have ample room to move. 

Technically, this breed is dual-purpose. They weigh up to ten pounds at maturity, and hens lay four to five eggs weekly. One note of caution is that these birds have a shorter lifespan due to their large size. 

14. Rouen Ducks

Many people choose Rouen ducks for their backyard flocks because they have similar coloring to Mallards but are even friendlier. There are two different types of Rouens, so make sure you know which one you are getting. These calm and friendly birds typically stick closer to home rather than free-ranging. 

They are great dual-purpose birds. Rouens can weigh up to eight pounds (although Standard Rouens are even larger). You can expect your hens to lay around three to four eggs weekly.

15. Saxony Ducks

Another friendly breed is the Saxony duck. They make fantastic pets and can handle nearly any environment. Plus, when you bring these beautiful ducks home, you’ll help protect this endangered species.

These birds have lovely blue and buff feathers. They also make fantastic dual-purpose birds. Hens lay upwards of four blue-green or white eggs weekly, and drakes can weigh up to eight pounds at maturity. 

16. Silver Appleyard

Kids will enjoy chasing these patient, gentle, and friendly ducks around the yard. Silver Appleyards are sweet, docile, and love their families. They are also relatively easy to care for, making them one of the better duck breeds for pets.

The breed has stunning feather coloration and functions as a good dual-purpose bird. Hens lay between three and five eggs weekly, and drakes can weigh up to eight pounds. 

17. Swedish Blue

These friendly and independent birds are one of the best duck breeds for pets. They love to forage and free-range, so they will happily take care of backyard bugs. Swedish Blue ducks also love to have fun, so they need ample space for their shenanigans. They also tolerate a range of environments, making them a fantastic addition to even the coldest backyard. These docile and friendly birds are not too quiet but not too loud, either.

This breed features gorgeous white and blue feathering. The hens are moderate egg layers, producing up to three green, white, or blue eggs weekly. And while they are not large birds, their six-pound bodies ensure there is a decent amount of meat available if you choose to raise them as meat birds. 

18. Welsh Harlequin

You may have a hard time keeping up with (and befriending) this active breed. However, Welsh Harlequin ducks are gentle and friendly, given enough attention. They spend most of their time free-ranging and foraging, making them relatively easy to manage. These birds are not the quietest breed around, though. So, if you live in a suburban neighborhood, they may not be the best choice for your home.

Welsh Harlequins are white with brown flecks and typically weigh around five pounds. The drakes are heavy enough to produce quality meat, and the hens are phenomenal egg-layers. You can expect around five or six white eggs weekly.

Summary of the 18 Best Duck Breeds For Pets

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