# Chickens vs Ducks for egg laying? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 5, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-vs-ducks-for-egg-laying/595286 "2011-09-05T16:55:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-vs-ducks-for-egg-laying/595286/1 "2011-09-05T16:55:52Z")
Which is better? (Farm is in Hawaii). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![EllyaX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85f322/32.png) [@EllyaX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllyaX)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-vs-ducks-for-egg-laying/595286/2 "2011-09-05T17:46:42Z")
I used to have both. Khaki Campbell ducks and wyandotte hens. The ducks were great layers but they will leave their eggs all over. The wyandottes would lay about an egg a day and they would also gather up the duck eggs too and pile them all up. If I had to choose between the ducks and the chickens I would go with the chickens just because of how personable and friendly they were. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-vs-ducks-for-egg-laying/595286/3 "2011-09-05T18:34:56Z")
Why choose? Have a few of each! Hen turkeys also lay regularly, lovely big pink-spotted eggs. I think a mixed poultry flock is a lot more fun than just one type. When I was a kid, one of our little bantams hatched out some ducklings. She was CONFUSED when they jumped in the pond! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-vs-ducks-for-egg-laying/595286/4 "2011-09-05T19:03:10Z")
I’m not sure if it matters to you, but ducks are voracious insect hunters, and they particularly love to eat ticks. Where I live, that’s a great feature. Ducks are also somewhat easier to house and a tiny bit less vulnerable to predators. I’d go for the duck/chicken combo myself, maybe throw in a goose or two for protection. Like **araminty** , I think a diverse barnyard is way more fun. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-vs-ducks-for-egg-laying/595286/5 "2011-09-06T01:04:51Z")
Chickens. In my experience, Ducks only lay eggs in non-conference games. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-vs-ducks-for-egg-laying/595286/6 "2011-09-06T01:28:08Z")
Everyone I know who has tried both chickens and ducks tell me that ducks are about a gazillion times easier. And their eggs are better. So I say ducks! ---
**Author:** ![LegsAkimbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@LegsAkimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegsAkimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-vs-ducks-for-egg-laying/595286/7 "2011-09-06T02:20:05Z")
We have 6 hens and are presently getting 5 eggs a day, which is way more than we need. They are free range, no coop, they roost overnight in trees. Property is fenced against 4-legged predators large enough to bother them. I was going to get a duck for diversity and fun but I read that they would mess up the pond (not natural; shallow with a rubber liner). I still kinda want a duck, though. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-vs-ducks-for-egg-laying/595286/8 "2011-09-06T11:49:58Z")
Ducks are messy. I’d say chickens. Far more cost-effective to just get a dozen eggs at the store, however. Funny, my wife’s goddamn roosters are crowing _as I’m typing this_. That’s right. Its 4:48 in the morning, I’m awake, roosters are crowing. Coincidence? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-vs-ducks-for-egg-laying/595286/9 "2011-09-06T12:00:39Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > Chickens. In my experience, Ducks only lay eggs in non-conference games. LOL