[darrena]

Hi,
I am looking to purchase 2 female ducks to be raise from just a few weeks old to become a family pet.
I live on a housing estate so the duck needs to be reasonably quite, I also have a young son so would like a duck which is know to be friendly and appeciate the odd petting.
Room is also at a premium and although water will be made available it is not running and would be a childs paddling pool.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

[Laverne88]

I really like mini silver appleyards because they are pretty, lay loads of eggs, are small and don't make as much racket as some of the others.

[chickenlady]

I dont have ducks but i know Kate (and her ducks) says her silver appleyard and cayuga ducks are the friendliest  with her cambells being the timidest!

[darrena]

How about Welsh Harlequin I have been told that these can be very friendly, does anyone have any experience of these?

[matilda duck]

Welsh harlequins   Kate 'll know about them soon

Runners are timid , crested are nice
Ducks are in general very skitty and timid.  They are not like chickens who will come to you, they tend to move out of your way.  Ducks are quite noisy. DON'T get call ducks they make a right racket!!!
Arn't welsh harlequins quite big ducks??? 

[darrena]

I understand the Harlequin to be the same size/weight as a campbell so medium to small! I may be wrong

[Vember]

Yes they are classed as a light breed along with Runners Campbells & Crested's

Call ducks sadly are very noisy But would have been great for the children they are pick upable
If you wanted a smaller bird then there is the Miniature Silver Appleyard, although not i'm not sure about their noise levels


Sarah

[Kate and her Ducks]

I'm hoping that WH aren't as noisy as the Campbells, they are the same size as a Campbell or a bit bigger.

My fullsize Appleyard is quieter than my other ducks and she also has a nicer voice, less harsh, almost like a honk than a quack but I don't know what the miniture ones are like.

[nnbreeder]

The ultimate stealth duck is the Muscovy. They make very little noise and the ones we have had through the years have been friendly too.  "Scovies don't quack as other breeds do, the females kinda squeak softly and the males will hiss when agitated.

[dawn 11]

muscovy ducks we had them  for years the kids loved them  one of them was mad about tv soaps   aways  came to watch    we had ababy bath for them   

 swim in  for safety as childen about   dawn11

[Foxy]

I do like muscovies, very odd faces, quiet friendly ducks, trying to hold of one myself as I hear they are fantastic broodies

oh and hi dawn!

[dawn 11]

our muscovies  kis-kis   would sit on any eggs   has hatch many bantams for us   we had her for 12 years     now i have a quail gone broody  first timeever  for me never had quail hatch own eggs   has any one  had  quail hatch eggs.

dawn11

[nnbreeder]

I have hatched quail in an incubator and many of us refer to them as "popcorn" because they explode out of the shell and hit the ground running!

[Foxy]

I have hatched quail in an incubator and many of us refer to them as "popcorn" because they explode out of the shell and hit the ground running!

  :lol:would love to see that!

[raeburg]

I have hatched quail in an incubator and many of us refer to them as "popcorn" because they explode out of the shell and hit the ground running!

One to set the video camera up to record!