The best duck breeds for eggs: 6 layers that outlay most chickens

7 minute read · published 2026-03-22

Most people don't know it, but the world's best egg-layers aren't chickens. Khaki Campbells lay 340 eggs a year. A flock of six laying ducks can match a flock of eight Leghorns - with eggs that bake better and have a richer yolk. Here are the breeds to consider and the setup they need.

Why ducks beat chickens for egg production

• Higher annual count. Top duck breeds outlay top chicken breeds.
• Year-round laying. Ducks lay through winter at a higher rate than chickens.
• Larger eggs. Duck eggs are 30-50% larger than chicken eggs.
• Richer yolk. Bakers prize duck eggs for the higher fat content.
• Predator resistance. Bigger and harder to grab than chickens.
• Mosquito and slug control. Free pest control in the run.

The 6 best laying breeds

1. Khaki Campbell - the champion

250-340 eggs per year. Bred in 1898 in England specifically for laying. Active foragers, calm temperament. The duck equivalent of a White Leghorn.

2. Indian Runner

200-300 eggs per year. Upright bowling-pin posture. Excellent forager and weed-controller. Don't fly. Available in many colors.

3. Welsh Harlequin

240-330 eggs per year. Color-sexable at hatch (males darker bills, females lighter). Calm, friendly. Newer breed, available from heritage breeders.

4. Pekin

150-200 eggs per year. The classic white meat duck also lays well. Calm, easy-keeper, but not the highest layer.

5. Ancona

200-280 eggs per year. Black-and-white splash patterns. Heritage breed, calm. Lighter than Pekin so less feed.

6. Muscovy

80-120 eggs per year - lower count but Muscovy compensates by being basically silent (no quack), exceptionally tame, and great for pest control + lean meat. Not a true duck (perching duck).

Setup that makes any laying duck happy

• Water for swimming. A 100-gallon stock tank or kiddie pool works. They need water deep enough to dunk their heads and bathe.
• House at night. Predator-proof shelter (raccoons especially). Doesn't need a roost - ducks sleep on the ground.
• Bedding. Straw works better than shavings (ducks make everything wetter than chickens).
• Layer feed (16-18% protein). Same as chickens, but offer waterfowl-specific niacin supplement if you can - they need more.
• Grit and oyster shell. Free-choice.

Where to buy

Day-old ducklings ship USPS Express in groups of 10+. Started ducks (4-8 weeks) are pickup-only. Browse all duck listings and filter by "ships USPS".

Expect to pay $7-12 per Khaki Campbell duckling, $9-14 for Welsh Harlequin (rarer breed), and $5-9 for Pekin.

The drake question

You only need a drake if you want fertile eggs for hatching. For an egg-only flock, all hens is the right call - the drakes can over-mate and damage hen backs. If you want to hatch your own replacements, 1 drake per 4-6 hens is the rule.

Selling ducklings? List free.