If you intend to raise ducks, you must consider how much noise they make.
Ducks, especially females, are noisy. They will chatter on and on when they are isolated, threatened, or happy. Some of them may even quack all through the night for various reasons.
Fortunately, ducks are generally not as noisy as chickens. Female ducks usually do not cackle nonstop for no verifiable reason, but hens sometimes do.
Drakes are generally incredibly quiet, but roosters sometimes go on and on crowing just to establish dominance.
It makes perfect sense for anyone to want to get a quiet duck. The noise from ducks can be a problem for you and even your neighbors. But with any of the duck breeds below, you could enjoy relative quietness.
Table of Contents
Crested Duck
Compared to many other duck breeds, Crested ducks are relatively quiet. Whenever you hear a Crested duck making sounds, it is probably a female duck looking for attention.
Crested ducks are usually raised as pets or for exhibition purposes. They may also be bred for their meat and eggs – they average 100-130 large-size eggs yearly.
Crested ducks are medium-sized, flightless, grow pretty fast, and are relaxed and friendly. On average, they weigh 6-7 pounds.
Saxony
A great all-purpose breed, Saxony ducks are a cross between Pomeranian, Rouen, and Pekin duck breeds. They fall in the heavy class, are fast-growing, and weigh an average of 7-8 lbs.
Saxony ducks are quiet, gentle, and friendly with calm demeanors. They are also energetic, alert, active, and excellent foragers.
Compared to the female ducks of many other breeds, female Saxony ducks are not that loud. Like most other drakes, male Saxony ducks make soft, raspy sounds.
As an all-purpose breed, Saxony ducks are raised for ornamental purposes, eggs, and meat. An excellent layer can produce at least 200 light-blue or white eggs each year.
Khaki Campbell
Khaki Campbells are quiet, independent, and docile. They typically do not make call sounds except if they are threatened, hungry, or excited. Plus, their call is usually in the form of hushed grunts or soft chatters.
The Khaki Campbell is a medium-sized duck breed usually weighing around 4 to 4.5 pounds. They lay an average of 280 to 300 eggs per year, and they typically start laying when they are 6 months old.
All in all, with Khaki Campbells, you get little noise and a lot of eggs. Choosing this breed would not be so hard.
Swedish Duck
Although it is not a common backyard duck, the Swedish duck has been gaining popularity recently.
Swedish ducks are relatively quiet, and they get along well with other poultry. They usually have a pale blue or black plumage with bits of silver.
Swedish ducks are very hardy. Their docile and calm personalities make them a great addition to any backyard farm. Plus, they are one of the heavy duck breeds, usually weighing around 5-6.5 pounds.
Swedish ducks make good pets. They are also kept for their eggs, meat, and for ornamental purposes. Swedish ducks usually lay around 100-150 eggs each year.
Cayuga Duck
Originating near Cayuga Lake in New York, Cayuga ducks are quiet, docile, tame, and friendly. They are usually kept for their meat, eggs, and for ornamental purposes.
A Cayuga duck will mostly stay quiet provided it is not isolated, hungry, or threatened. Even when it calls, the sound will not be as noisy as the call of many other breeds.
Cayuga Ducks have black feet, black bills, and beautiful black iridescent feathers. They are usually kept for their eggs and for exhibition. Their calm disposition makes them the ideal choice for a backyard flock.
Cayuga ducks lay between 100 and 150 eggs each year. Their eggshells are black, charcoal, or grey color at the start of the laying season. Eggs from older birds and mid-season eggs are usually light gray.
Magpie Duck
Magpie ducks are calm, quiet, lightweight ducks. And due to their calm demeanor, they are excellent for suburban and backyard farms.
Magpie ducks usually weigh between 5.5 and 6 pounds. They are excellent layers, with a laying rate of around 220-290 eggs each year. Their plumage is typically black and white or blue and white.
Appleyard Duck
Appleyard ducks are friendly, calm, and active. While they are generally quiet, they can be pretty noisy sometimes. But just like the other duck breeds, the drakes are more soundless than the females.
Appleyard ducks are excellent foragers, and since they are docile, they will do well in your backyard. You can also keep them as pets or for exhibition purposes.
Due to their heavy size, Appleyard ducks are excellent for meat. In a year, they can give you as many as 250 eggs. So they are also great for egg production.
Indian Runner Duck
Indigenous to Indonesia, Indian Runner ducks were used by rice farmers to control insects in their rice paddies.
Indian Runners are odd-looking ducks with cylindrically shaped bodies. Their plumage comes in various colors, including chocolate, black, grey, buff, and white.
Indian Runner ducks are mild-mannered, flightless, and they are about as noiseless as Khaki Campbells.
They can stand in an almost upright position because of how far back their legs are located. Mature Indian Runner ducks usually weigh between 4 and 4.5 lbs. Therefore, they fall under the lightweight class.
They typically lay 150 to 200 large white or greenish eggs yearly, starting as early as 18 weeks old.
Muscovy
Muscovy ducks are the quietest duck breed. They rarely ever make calls, but may if they are scared, or under attack. Some may even vocalize a bit when they are happy.
Muscovy ducks are so quiet they do not quack. Instead, the females make a gentle coo sound, while the drakes make a slight breathy call.
Muscovy ducks are not a top choice for egg production. They are poor layers – only offering an average of 60 to 120 eggs yearly. But if you want minimum noise, no other breed comes close to being as noiseless as Muscovy ducks.
Resources
- https://www.omlet.us/guide/ducks/about_ducks/quacking
- https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/duck-breeds/
- https://www.attainable-sustainable.net/duck-breeds/
- https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/animals-and-wildlife/popular-duck-breeds
- https://thecapecoop.com/great-backyard-duck-breeds/
- https://farmhouseguide.com/quietest-duck-breeds/