Why We Switched from Chickens to Ducks: 6 Reasons Ducks Rule the Backyard Farm

This is the Year for Ducks

For us, anyway.

We knew we wanted to go bigger this year—big enough to finally sell eggs at the farmers market. After a decade of suburban small-flock shenanigans, we decided it was time for the next poultry adventure.

Our journey started on our 1/3 acre with guinea hens (for more on that nightmare, [click here]), moved on to the allure of bantam chickens (tiny birds, big personalities—[stories here]), and eventually added a couple ducks just for fun.

Then we went big in our small space: two separate flocks, 20 full-sized layers on one side, 28 meat birds on the other.

But finally, we moved out to the edge of the country, got a bigger piece of land, and started over with a small flock of hens, and—you guessed it—two ducks for entertainment.

But this year?
No more dabbling. All ducks.

Here’s why we walked away from chickens and went all-in on our duck army.

1. Market Value:
Ducks Bring Home the Premium

If you’re scaling up to make a little income from your homestead, egg value deserves a spot on the spreadsheet.

Duck eggs are a niche market—you won’t find them in Walmart (or even Whole Foods most days). They’ve got higher fat content and richer flavor, which makes bakers swoon.

Because they’re rarer, they sell at a premium price—often twice what you get for chicken eggs, or the same price for half as many. Every time we visit a farmers market, eggs sell out. Every. Single. Time.

And while chicken eggs are still in demand, that 2:1 price ratio means ducks are winning this round hands-down.

Round Winner - Ducks 2 points; Chickens 1 point.

2. Egg Production:
The Numbers Game

Next question—who lays more eggs?

This one’s almost a tie. Breeds vary wildly, but if we compare the top performers, it’s neck and neck.

The Lohmann Brown chicken lays around 320+ eggs per year, while the Khaki Campbell duck can crank out 280–340 eggs per year depending on whose stats you trust (and whether that website sells ducks).

Even assuming a little “marketing optimism,” they’re close enough to call it even.

Round Winner - Tie! 1 point each.

3. Who’s Louder?
The Noise Factor

Ah yes, the great sound debate.

Let’s start with the obvious: roosters.
They don’t just crow at dawn. Oh no. They crow two hours before dawn, during breakfast, mid-afternoon, and anytime something vaguely triumphant happens.

They clock in at about 90 decibels, which is the volume of a barking dog—but shriller. (If you’ve ever had one, you know.)

Male ducks, on the other hand, sound like a raspy frog. Weirdly endearing. But since we’re in it for eggs, it’s all about the girls.

Chicken hens are fairly quiet—gentle “boks” and purrs when dust-bathing, with a little noisy celebration after laying.

Duck hens can get loud when they want something—feed, attention, snacks, justice—but it’s more comical than grating. When 20 ducks all start quacking, it sounds like chaos at a comedy club.

If noise drives you crazy and you just want eggs, chickens win this one.

But if you’ve ever endured guinea fowl (oh, the horror), you’ll understand why ducks sound like angels in comparison.

Round Winner - Chicken! 1 point.

4. Housing & Fencing:
The Poultry Paddock Showdown

Let’s talk enclosures.

Neither species can really fly high—unless you’re dealing with bantams, who apparently think they’re pigeons.

Once our chickens discovered they could perch on our 4-foot fence, then hop down to freedom it was all over. Freedom, of course, meaning pooping on our porch and begging for treats at the door.

Ducks? They stay put. No jail breaks, no porch presents, and no hidden (rotten) eggs in the tall grass.

For our 5,000 sq. ft. fenced area, ducks are the clear winners.

Round Winner - Ducks! 1 point.

5. Feed & Foraging:
Pretty Much a Tie

Both ducks and chickens eat about ¼ pound of feed per day per bird, and feed costs are nearly identical by brand.

Our feeding routine:

• Free-choice feed until full-grown

• Kitchen scraps and fermented grains ([link coming soon!]) in the late morning

• Bugs from the bug-zapper and a scoop of feed at night to lure them back into the coop
  

We’ve even tried growing duckweed (first attempt = flop) as supplemental nutrition. Still, both birds are great at foraging, bug-hunting, and turning kitchen waste into eggs.

This round’s a friendly draw.

Round Winner - Tie! 1 point each.

6. Hardiness:
The Deciding Factor

Now here’s where ducks really earn their crown.

2022 was our worst poultry year ever.
Mites. Predators. A record-breaking 113°F summer. Freezing winter nights. We lost every single chicken except one.

We tried everything—shade, cold treats, icy water bowls—but the chickens just couldn’t take the Texas extremes.

The ducks, though? Different story.

We did lose 1¼ ducks to a bobcat (long story—[read about our one-winged survivor here]), but otherwise they were tanks. Ducks rarely get mites or disease because they bathe daily. They shrug off heat by hopping into a pool, and they don’t mind the cold until temps drop near zero.

No electricity in our coop? No problem. While our last chicken got frostbite on her comb, the ducks were out there breaking ice to make themselves a watering hole. Champions.

Sure, chickens might have a slight advantage in flight and predator evasion, but ducks dominate every other category.

Round Winner - Ducks! 1 point.

Conclusion:
This Really Is the Year of the Duck

After tallying it all up, the ducks win 5 to 3.

The biggest reason for us was heat hardiness—but honestly, they’ve won us over in every other way too. They’re tough, funny, productive, and profitable.

We still love chickens (we really do), but this year belongs to the ducks. Wish us luck on the next chapter of this adventure—we’ll bring you along for the ride!