February on the Farm!Metzer Farms February 2026 Newsletter
February might be chilly, but things are warming up around here! Longer days and fresh plans for spring flocks are right around the corner.
Ducks make wonderful pets, but there's more to them than most people expect. That's why Kristine Ellis, content creator and author of "Raising Ducks for Beginners and Beyond", guest wrote a blog for us on 10 Things You Should Know Before You Get Pet Ducks. It is a wonderful and informative read for anyone considering ducks this spring!
As days begin to lengthen, many ducks naturally start gearing up for egg laying. While cold temperatures can slow things down, daylight is the biggest factor, so patience is key this time of year.
Some ducks will begin laying earlier than others, and first-year layers may take a little longer to get started. Consistent nutrition, fresh water, and a stress-free environment will help encourage healthy laying as the season approaches.
Developed by Metzer Farms in 1996 by crossing different breeds and selecting for the best characteristics, the Golden 300 is an exceptional egg layer - producing more and larger eggs than the Khaki Campbell. Females range from light to dark brown, while males may show shades of black or coloring similar to a Rouen. However, if you breed the Golden 300 ducks, their offspring's colors do not relate to their sex.
Developed by Metzer Farms after the Golden 300 Hybrid, White Layers are prized for their superior egg production and pristine plumage, offering both beauty and performance.
A heritage breed introduced in 1901, Khaki Campbells are renowned for their exceptional egg production. Our female and male Khaki Campbell ducks, with their distinctive khaki-colored plumage and lively, friendly personalities, are an excellent choice for anyone looking to add reliable egg layers to their flock.
Khaki Campbell ducks are one of the most popular and productive duck breeds in the world, valued for their distinctive khaki-colored plumage, energetic personalities, and exceptional egg-laying ability. Whether you are starting a backyard flock or expanding a farm operation, Khaki Campbells are a dependable breed known for consistently exceeding expectations.
The Khaki Campbell was developed in 1901 by Mrs. Adele Campbell of Gloucestershire, England, with a strong focus on production rather than exhibition. By crossing Runner ducks with Rouen and Mallards, she created a bird that offered improved egg production and a more useful carcass for meat. Although the breed later gained attention in exhibition circles, Mrs. Campbell remained firm that her ducks were intended for productivity. As the khaki coloration became standardized, the breed’s popularity grew rapidly, helped by impressive results in egg-laying contests where Khaki Campbells routinely outperformed other breeds.
Their reputation for excellence continued through the work of dedicated breeders such as the Jansen family of Holland and later the Kortlang family of England. In the mid-1900s, the Jansen flocks achieved remarkable production averages of over 330 eggs per duck per year, with birds beginning to lay at around 20 weeks of age and showing very low mortality rates. The Kortlang family carried on this tradition, preserving the breed’s strong production traits. Our Khaki Campbells include some of this respected bloodline, ensuring birds that remain true to the breed’s long-standing reputation for productivity, resilience, and quality.
You have just picked your new ducklings up at the post office and you want to give them an added boost to help them make a healthy transition to their new life with you. What is the best way to help? Food and water are a must, but those first 72 hours after arrival are critical, so we thought we would share this tip with you:
In addition to providing food and water, we strongly recommend giving your ducklings VitaMetz Waterfowl Boost to help support them in their early days. Many customers have found it helpful for reducing travel stress, and it can conveniently ship right in the box with your birds under their bedding. Waterfowl Boost is packed with niacin and includes a complete mix of vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and probiotics - everything ducklings, goslings, and poultry need to thrive. If you do not have Waterfowl Boost on hand, electrolytes in the form of Gatorade, Pedialyte, or even diluted sugar water can be used as well.
If you notice that a duckling is struggling and not eating its starter crumbles, you may offer a small amount of chopped hard-boiled chicken egg as a short-term option to help stimulate appetite. The egg can be placed on top of the starter feed for the first day or two if needed. A quality starter feed is already completely balanced, and the goal is to have ducklings eating their starter feed as soon as possible.
Looking for something quacktastic to do this Valentine’s Day? Download and print our coloring sheets for some creative fun! Don’t forget to share your masterpiece on social media and tag us—we’d love to see your amazing creations! 🦆💖
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