Short answer: Pekins are fast, noisy, water-loving white ducks that reach market in about seven to eight weeks. Muscovies are quieter, hardier and red-faced, take closer to twelve weeks to finish, and often go broody and hatch their own eggs. For a Ghanaian farm the choice turns on three things: how long you can wait for meat, whether a hatching hen matters to you, and whether water and a covered, secure run are within reach. Ducklings are not on our current price list, so source them from a duck breeder.
Key takeaways
- A Pekin reaches market in roughly two-thirds of the time a Muscovy needs, which means less feed per bird on a short plan.
- Muscovy hens often go broody and hatch their own eggs, which saves you running an incubator for that batch.
- Pekins need enough water to wash, and in the Ghanaian dry season that water becomes a hygiene job.
- Muscovies fly and perch, so a low fence is not a fence for this breed.
- Read the label of any chicken feed before you give it to ducks, because some medicated feeds are not safe for them.
Two ducks, one question for the year
Ask a farmer which duck to keep and you will get two answers. One is the big white bird that eats whatever you put in front of it and is ready for the pot before the chickens are half grown. The other is the red-faced bird that flies onto the fence post, goes quiet at night and sits on her own eggs until somebody moves her.
Both are good birds, for different plans. Most of the trouble with ducks comes from keeping the one that does not fit the plan.
What we can and cannot say from our own pens
We do not hatch or sell ducklings, so nothing in this article comes from our own flocks. What follows is what breeders describe and what keepers report, checked against the conditions you will actually face in Ghana: the heat before the rains, the mud of the wet season, the dust of the harmattan and the predators that come out after dark.
Where the evidence is solid, we say so. Where the figures vary a lot from farm to farm, we give a range and tell you what to measure yourself.
The two breeds side by side
| Trait | Pekin | Muscovy |
|---|---|---|
| Look | White plumage, yellow skin | Dark plumage, bare red face and wattles |
| Typical time to market | About seven to eight weeks | Closer to twelve weeks |
| Adult size | Broad and heavy, with drakes and hens of similar build | Drakes much larger than hens, sometimes close to double the weight |
| Egg output | Good layer, white eggs, steady once laying starts | Fewer eggs, laid in spells |
| Broodiness | Rarely broody | Often broody, and a hen will hatch her own eggs |
| Flight | Cannot fly well | Flies up to perches and over low fences |
| Noise | Loud, with a lot of quacking | Quiet, hisses more than quacks |
| Water needs | High, for bathing and drinking | Lower, manages with less open water |
| Heat tolerance | Less tolerant of heat | More tolerant of heat |
Treat the table as the usual pattern. Your own birds, feed and house will move these figures, and a good breeder's line will sometimes beat the typical result.
Meat: the Pekin finishes sooner, the Muscovy is leaner
A Pekin is built to put on weight quickly on a high-energy ration. Its carcass carries more fat under the skin, which some cooks like and others trim away. A Muscovy takes longer to reach the same table weight, but the meat is leaner and darker, and some buyers who know the bird prefer it for roasting. If you are new to the meat side, our meat chicken comparison shows how the chicken options stack up on the same questions.
Plan for more time at the dressing table as well. Ducks carry a heavier coat of feathers and more fat than a chicken of the same weight, so a bird that looks ready on the scale can take longer to scald and pluck cleanly. Ask a butcher you trust to show you the method before your first batch, and price the time into what you charge.
The feed sum is where the two split. A Pekin ready at eight weeks has been fed for 56 days. A Muscovy finished at twelve weeks has been fed for 84. That is half as many days again. If the Muscovy is the bird you want for its flavour, build that feed into the price you charge, or you will be selling at a loss without noticing.
Eggs, broodiness and who hatches the next flock
A Pekin hen starts laying earlier than a Muscovy and lays more regularly once she is going. Her eggs are white and a good size, and she will not sit on them. If eggs for the table or for sale are the goal, she is the simpler bird. But you will need an incubator or a broody hen from elsewhere to make ducklings.
A Muscovy hen lays fewer eggs in spells, which is a nuisance until you see the advantage. She goes broody and hatches her own clutch, usually in about 35 days. A Pekin egg takes about 28 days in an incubator. Muscovy hens often choose a quiet, hidden nest, so check the spots she favours each day and move eggs somewhere safe if she is sitting in the open. Our beginner's incubator guide covers what to do when you do want a machine hatch.
Housing, predators and the fence question
A Pekin cannot fly well, so a fence of reasonable height keeps her in and most predators out. Her real need is the night shelter. She needs a dry, draught-free house with a floor that does not turn to mud after the first heavy rain.
A Muscovy will fly. She will perch on a roof, go over a low fence in the morning and come home at dusk if she is fed there. A covered run, with a roof over the top, is the only fence that works for her. Close the house every night and count the birds before you lock up. In the harmattan, dust gets into everything, so keep the bedding dry and the air moving without blowing dust over the water. Our notes on house ventilation apply to ducks as well, and mites can find a damp duck house just as easily as a chicken house, so check our guide to mites and lice when the bedding gets wet.
Water, mud and hygiene in the Ghanaian heat
Ducks waste water. They splash, tip and dunk, and a drinker that is clean at seven in the morning can be filthy by noon. Adult Pekins need enough water to wash their heads and bodies. That keeps their feathers in good order, but it is hard on a yard that turns to soup in the rains and dust in the dry season. Muscovies get by with much less.
Give ducks drinkers they can reach without climbing into them, and put those drinkers where runoff will not wash into the feed. Change the water twice a day in the hot months. Mud around the water point breeds disease fast, so keep a dry patch of litter by the house where birds can rest out of the wet. For the wider picture on water, see our guide to water quality for poultry.
Feeding ducks, and reading the label twice
Ducks need a feed with enough protein for growth or laying, and they are not very fussy. Start them on a proper starter, move them to a grower, and switch to layer feed when they begin to lay. A chicken ration on hand may be close, but check it before you use it.
The label is the thing to check. Some medicated chick feeds contain additives that suit chickens but can harm ducks. Read the label, look for any species warnings, and ask your feed supplier or vet before you feed a bag made for another bird. It takes a short phone call, and that call costs you nothing.
Need chicks for your next batch?
Send breed, number and town. We reply with price, hatch date and delivery cost in writing.
Worked plan: 40 birds for a yard flock
Take a yard that can hold 40 birds in its night house and run. Forty Pekins finished at eight weeks give you a quick turn and a smaller feed bill per bird. Forty Muscovies finished at twelve weeks eat half as many days again per bird, but give you leaner birds and perhaps a hen or two to hatch the next batch.
The easy way to decide is to write the feed days beside the price you expect for each bird. If a buyer pays the same for both, the Pekin wins on turnover. If a buyer pays more for the Muscovy's leaner meat, the balance shifts. Only your own sale prices can settle it, so ask two buyers before you order any ducklings.
A checklist before you order ducklings
- Pick the plan first: meat at eight weeks, meat at twelve weeks, or eggs with a hen that will hatch.
- Confirm the house is closed at night and the run has a roof, not only a fence.
- Set up a water point that can be cleaned twice a day and sits away from the feed.
- Read the label of every feed you plan to use, and check that it names the species.
- Ask the breeder where the parents came from and what the flock's health history looks like.
- Choose a buyer and a sale date before the birds go in.
- Find a vet who will look at ducks, not only chickens.
Mistakes that sink a duck plan
- Keeping a Muscovy in a fenced yard without a roof, then losing her to the first night predator.
- Buying Pekins expecting broody hens. They will not sit, so you will be buying chicks you could have hatched.
- Letting the drinkers run dry in the heat, which hits ducks harder than most chickens.
- Sending birds to a buyer before they are at weight because the feed money ran short.
- Running too many drakes for the number of hens, which leads to over-mating and bruised backs.
Where to get ducklings, and what we can help with
Ducklings are not on our current price list, so we cannot quote you a Pekin or a Muscovy. Find a duck breeder near you, and ask for the parents' origin, the health history and the date the eggs were set. If a breeder cannot answer those questions, look for another one.
If you also keep chickens, our range is the place to start. For the broader duck background, our duck farming guide covers housing, feeding and sales. Message +233 24 915 1503 on WhatsApp, and we will tell you what we can supply and when. Delivery goes to all 16 regions (see our delivery page), and the price is confirmed in writing before you pay. You can see all our breeds on one page, and the day-old chicks overview explains how ordering works. Whatever you keep, a worm programme agreed with your vet, as set out in our deworming guide, keeps the flock growing.
Questions farmers ask
Which duck grows faster, Pekin or Muscovy?
The Pekin, by a clear margin. It is usually ready for market at about seven to eight weeks, where a Muscovy commonly takes closer to twelve. The Muscovy's meat is leaner and darker, so buyers who value it may accept the longer wait. Work out feed days and your sale price before you choose.
Do Muscovy ducks fly?
Yes. Muscovies can fly up to perches and over low fences, especially when young or startled. Keep them in a covered run and close the house at night. A plain fence is not enough for this breed.
Can a Pekin hatch her own eggs?
Rarely. Pekins are not known for broodiness, so most flocks rely on an incubator for ducklings. A Muscovy hen is often broody and will hatch her own clutch, usually in about 35 days. Check the nests each day so eggs are not lost in the grass.
How many eggs does a Pekin lay?
Pekin hens are good layers once they start, and their white eggs are a feature of the breed. The exact count depends on feed, water and season, so count eggs from the first week of lay and track your own figures. Breeders' figures are a guide, not a promise.
Do ducks need a pond?
No, but they need enough water to drink and to clean their heads and bodies. Pekins need more than Muscovies. A clean drinker and a bathing tub that you empty and refill often will do for a yard flock.
Can I feed ducks chicken feed?
Often, but read the label first. Some medicated chick feeds contain additives that can harm ducks. Choose a starter or grower made for poultry, with clear species information, or ask your feed supplier or vet which chicken feed is safe to use with ducks.
Do you sell ducklings?
Not at present. Ducklings are not on our current price list, so we cannot quote them. For chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl and quail, message us on WhatsApp at +233 24 915 1503 for current stock and prices, and we will confirm the price in writing before you pay.
