How Much Does a Duck Cost? A Comprehensive Breakdown of Prices and Expenses for Duck Ownership

Are you considering a new feathery addition to your farm or backyard coop? If you are, a duck could be just what you are looking for. There are many domesticated duck breeds, so you won’t have a hard time choosing one.

The price of a duck is determined by many factors including the duck’s breed, temperament, egg-laying ability, feathers, and meat quality. To start your duck adventure, make sure you have the basic conditions to become a duck parent. First and foremost, you need a good outdoor space for ducks (a spacious backyard or a farm). For an even warmer welcome, you might consider a small pond that would be just perfect for your newcomer.

To help you find the answer to “How much is a duck?” we have created a list of duck breeds with prices. Hopefully, our list will help you choose the perfect duck breed within your budget.

How Much Is a Duck by Breed?

Duck prices vary and are closely related to the duck’s breed and features. Our list with prices incorporates different duck breeds with a comparison of prices, so you can find a duck that fits your budget, primary objective, and requirements.

Besides the initial cost for a duck that’s between $8 and $22, you will need an additional budget for monthly expenses for housing, food, water, brooder, nesting boxes, vet care, and more. Don’t forget, ducks are social birds, so if you buy one, you will need at least one more to make a pair. Luckily, ducks are not expensive and are low maintenance. So, you can raise two ducks or even an entire flock. See the cost of ducks by breed and start preparing:

1.    Black Muscovy Duck

The price of a Black Muscovy duck is $21.55. Usually, local farms and hatcheries offer discounts if you buy more than one duck. Metzer Farms (duck, goose, and game bird hatchery in California) has lower prices for orders over 30 unsexed Black Muscovy ducks:

• For 30 to 124 ducks, the price is $15,64;
• For 125 to 299 ducks, the price is $12,02;
• For 300 to 749 ducks, the price is $8.92;
• For 750 to 1199 ducks, the price is $8.11;
• For 1200 to 1999 ducks, the price is $7.22;
• For more than 2000 ducks, the price is $6.87.

Besides this hatchery, where you can even order ducks online (minimum two ducks), you can visit local farms or fleet stores to check the price for an individual duck and do the math. The benefit of choosing farms like Metzer is the variety of duck breeds for sale, free shipping on all duck orders, the possibility of different payment methods, and a 100% healthy arrival guarantee.

2.    Black Runner Ducks

You can buy Black Runner ducks from McMurray Hatchery in Iowa for a price of:

• $14.30 for 1 to 4, $13.65 for 5 to 24, and $13 for more than 25 Black Runner female ducks;
• $7.24 for 1 to 4, $6.96 for 5 to 24, and $6.27 for more than 25 Black Runner male ducks;
• $10.78 for 1 to 4, $10.31 for 5 to 24, and $9.63 for more than 25 Black Runner unsexed ducks.

If you are ordering baby ducks make sure to order a Starter Kit, brooder, feeders, waterers, and other duck care items and utensils. You can order everything you need to take care of your ducks from McMurray Hatchery. Whether you are buying a duck for the first time or you are an experienced farmer find all the necessary supplies in one place. Another benefit of purchasing a duck from hatcheries is the wide selection of duck breeds and quality products.

3.    Blue Runner Duck

You can buy unsexed Blue Runner ducks from another hatchery situated in Iowa called Hoover’s Hatchery. If you decide to order your duckling from this hatchery you will have to:

• Pay $8.98 for one or more unsexed blue runner ducks;
• Order a minimum of fifteen ducks (the hatchery’s minimum shipping quantity).

Hoover’s Hatchery pays special attention to your ducks during shipping. Hence, the minimum order requirements are to keep the ducks warm and safe during shipping. Also, there is a minimum of five ducks per breed and sex and you can’t combine different breeds with each duck type. Another measure for the safety and well-being of your order.

4.    Cayuga Duck

For unsexed, female and male Cayuga Ducks you can check Cackle Hatchery’s prices:

• $9.25 for 1 to 4, $8.75 for 5 to 9, $8.25 for 10 to 14, $7.20 for 15 to 29, and $6.40 for more than 30 unsexed Cayuga ducks;
• $11.95 for 1 to 4, $11.70 for 5 to 9, $11.50 for 10 to 14, $10.50 for 15 to 29, and $8.95 for more than 30 female Cayuga ducks;
• $8.90 for 1 to 4, $7.90 for 5 to 9, $6.90 for 10 to 14, $5.90 for 15 to 29, and $4.90 for more than 30 male Cayuga ducks.

Cackle Hatchery in Missouri sells only baby ducklings and a minimum of three ducklings per order (shipped from February through June). If you like these prices and you decide to order your Cayuga ducklings from this hatchery check the availability chart.

5.    Black Swedish Duck

Meyer hatchery in Ohio sells a day-old Black Swedish Ducklings for $9.63. They offer:

• 29% discount for buying 30 ducks, so the price for a duck would be $6.80;
• 35% discount for buying 125 ducks, so the price for a duck would be $6.28.

The hatchery’s ordering policy is a minimum of 3 ducks per order, and if you want you can mix duck breeds to meet the criteria. Once you order your Black Swedish ducklings they are shipped Tuesdays or Wednesdays and usually arrive 1-3 days later. If the ducklings of your choosing are unavailable at the moment of searching you can leave your e-mail on Meyer’s hatchery website and receive a notification when the product becomes available.

6.    Blue Swedish Duck

If you are looking for a Blue Swedish Duck try the Ideal Poultry hatchery in Cameron, Texas. They have been in the poultry business since 1937 and offer the following prices:

• $6.74 for 1 to 19 Blue Swedish ducks;
• $6.20 for 20 to 39 Blue Swedish ducks;
• $6.08 for 40 to 79 Blue Swedish ducks;
• $5.96 for more than 80 Blue Swedish ducks.

This family-owned hatchery is one of the largest backyard poultry suppliers in the United States, shipping nearly 5 million chicks a year. If you want to order your Blue Swedish duck from Ideal Poultry, you will have to fulfill the following order policy:

• The order value should be at least $40 for live birds;
• There is no minimum number of ducks as long as the order is $40 (not including the quantity surcharge of $20 for 1-14 ducks, $15 for 15 to 99 ducks, and $10 for over 100 ducks);
• If you cancel your order within 48 hours of the scheduled hatch date you will be charged a processing fee of $20.

7.    Buff Duck

California Hatchery has Buff Ducklings for a price of $11.28 that are usually shipped in two to four weeks. There is an addition to the initial price for ordering a male or female Buff Duck of $1.50. Also, the hatchery has other pricing regarding the quantity of the order:

• $11.28 for 1 to 24 buff ducklings;
• $9.59 for 25 to 49 buff ducklings;
• $9.02 for 50 to 99 buff ducklings;
• $7.90 for over 100 buff ducklings.

Another useful information order-wise is that you need to fulfill the minimum order quantity of 3 ducklings. California hatchery safely ships the ducklings anywhere in the US. The order for a pair of adult Buff ducks will include one male and one female duck.

8.    Chocolate Runner Duck

If you are interested in Chocolate Runner ducks and free shipping on all orders check the following prices:

• $12.04 for 1 to 29, $8.57 for 30 to 124, $6.62 for 125 to 299, $4.94 for 300 to 749, $4.50 for 750 to 1199, $4.02 for 1200 to 1999, and $3.84 for more than 2000 unsexed Chocolate Runner ducks;
• $12.04 for 1 to 29, $9.17 for 30 to 124, $6.25 for 125 to 299, $4.90 for 300 to 749, $3.71 for 750 to 1199, $3.03 for 1200 to 1999, and $2.90 for more than 2000 male Chocolate Runner ducks;
• $16.63 for 1 to 29, $12.25 for 30 to 124, $9.38 for 125 to 299, $6.94 for 300 to 749, $6.30 for 750 to 1199, $5.58 for 1200 to 1999, and $5.30 for more than 2000 male Chocolate Runner ducks.

This hatchery has great prices for more ducks. If you like it so far you can check the Chocolate Runner availability and make an order.

9.    Duclair Duck

Celebrated by chefs all over the world for its tasty meat Duclair duck is a breed that can be bought for the following prices:

• $17.65 for one or more female Duclair ducks;
• $8.72 for one or more male Duclair ducks;
• $13.20 for one or more unsexed Duclair ducks.

This duck breed is available for future dates, just make sure to check all hatch dates for this season before placing your order. Also, don’t forget to select a ship date before checking out. The Murray McMurray hatchery sells only white Duclair ducks so if you want another color you should try other hatcheries that may have Duclair ducks in more colors.

10.  Fawn and White Runner Ducks

Customers have rated Fawn and White Runner ducks with 4.56 out of 5 stars. Cackle Hatchery sells only baby Fawn and White Runner ducklings that are shipped from February through June for these prices:

• $9.25 for 1 to 4, $8.75 for 5 to 9, $8.25 from 10 to 14, $7.20 for 15 to 29, and $6.40 for more than 30 unsexed Fawn and White Runner ducks;
• $11.95 for 1 to 4, $11.70 for 5 to 9, $11.50 from 10 to 14, $10.50 for 15 to 29, and $8.95 for more than 30 female Fawn and White Runner ducks;
• $8.90 for 1 to 4, $7.90 for 5 to 9, $6.90 from 10 to 14, $5.90 for 15 to 29, and $4.90 for more than 30 male Fawn and White Runner ducks.

There is a limit of 30 ducks per order and if the ducks of your choosing are temporarily unavailable you can write your e-mail on the hatchery’s website and receive a notification of availability.

Comparison of Duck Prices

As you can see the prices vary depending on the duck’s breed and sex. Therefore, we have compared duck prices by breed and hatchery to help you choose your favorite breed for the best price:

Conclusion

The information in this article will get you closer to the answer to “How much is a duck?”. The price varies and depends on the ducks’ breed, sex, and quantity. Usually, for ordering more than 4, 10, or 30 ducks (depending on the hatchery) you get a discount.

With or without discount, ducks are affordable, cute creatures that will bring joy to your life and farm. Use our research and table of price comparison and find the ducks of your choosing for a fair price. That way you will have both lovely ducklings and enough budget for upkeeping costs.