Golden 300 Hybrids?

[themusics]

I'm trying to pick a laying breed that will also work as friendly pets, since I'll be letting them in the house too. At first I was thinking about khaki campbells, but I definitely want to get the most eggs for the smallest flock. Especially since I will have to care for the rabbits too.

[Muleman]

The Buff Orphintons were always my kids favorites.
Just curious when you say "Let them in the house" Do you mean chicken house or House House??

[themusics]

House house. Washington isn't the warmest state. So I intend to let the birds inside during inclement weather. At least until I am sure we're able to get them a good, solid weatherproof outdoor situation. And the brooder would be indoors. (Yes, I know they are messy)

[wally]

Please let me throw this out there...Build your shelter/pens before you bring home any animals

[crazyfarm]

I loved my golden 300. they did lay a lot of eggs. Mine weren't friendly though. I imagine most breeds would become friendly with enough handling. My interaction with my birds is feeding and egg collecting and watching them run amok. I don't handle them at all.

Now, you are going to have the nastiest house ever. Ducks are gross. GROSS animals. They are dirty, they make messes, they are dirty. Did I mention they are gross? lol I do not see how you can possibly keep more than 1 duck as a house pet and have a semi clean house.

Not sure you've thought this through. My ducks can be found out in the snow when my other birds have sought shelter. Even in Washington your ducks DO NOT need to be brought inside when it's cold. They're ducks. Just build them a shelter and provide them water, they'll be fine.

[crazyfarm]

Oh thought I'd say I have Khaki Campbell and Welsh Harlequin as well. They all seem to lay the same to me. You don't get any eggs in the winter pretty much so prepare for that.

[KSALguy]

first of all if your looking at ducks your over thinking what they can survive comfortably outside, they are build a lot better for the cold than chickens are, that being said you REALLY need to have your coop built before you bring anything home, bringing poultry of any size into the house as "pets" is not something you really want to do, not only for the sake of cleanliness but also your own health, bird dander in the air can promote respitory infection to say the least, having lived with a trio of gosslings in my room once as a kid I speak from first hand experience, you do NOT want to bring them in the house.

[Muleman]

I agree with the above post. Besides once they get used to cable TV and laying on the couch watching Animal Planet all day you will never get them to agree to move out in some old wooden coop with no couch and TV. Some of those series AP run are quite addictive!! Then What???

[Dixie Bee Acres]

If you are even possibly considering any poultry in the house, especially ducks, you have obviously never raised ducks. I had 2 ducks once....ONCE. The two ducks stunk worse and made more of a mess than my dozen chickens and two turkeys I had at the same time.
Nasty creatures they are.

[GrannyCarol]

As a duck owner in WA State, I can tell you that they are fine outside all winter, esp. on the West side of the mountains. Any sort of cover from wind (though they do like some straw in a dog house a lot) and they are fine. I live on the colder, windier East side and never felt the need to bring my ducks in during the winter. They do have pens and some shelter, usually they ignore it. You can make an adequate shelter with some straw bales and a chunk of plywood for a roof and they'll thrive.

I'll agree, you do NOT want them in the house.

Also, I have found the Welsh Harlequins to be friendlier than most and great layers. They are also quite pretty. However, keep in mind that ducks are closer to their wild roots than chickens and generally prefer not to be pets. I did have a WH that would help me weed, sticking her bill in the soft dirt looking for worms as I went. They respond best to treats if you want them tame.