Welsh Harlequin Ducks

They can also make an outstanding dressed bird as their under-feathers are almost exclusively white making their carcass as pretty as a pure white bird. Interestingly, their gender can be determined after hatching with 90% accuracy by their bill color. Darker bills mean a male and lighter bills ending in a dark spot are normally females. Within several days this distinction disappears. They are also a beautiful bird, especially the feather patterns and colors on the adult females.

There are two variations of Welsh Harlequins: Silver and Gold. Ours are the more common Silver variety.

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Customer Reviews of Welsh Harlequin Ducks

5.0

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CHRISTINA M. | Best Layers

By far the calmest and the best layers I have. Love the color variations, they are very beautiful ducks.

Debra G. | Adore these ducks!

This is our first time raising ducks. We chose this breed primarily for it’s calm, friendly, and inquisitive personality and we were not disappointed! They have completely endeared themselves to our whole family, as well as providing us with delicious eggs! We highly recommend Welsh Harlequins and Metzer Farms!

Anna K. | Funny bird

We have our ducks as pets and we have a small flock. We named our girl Contessa. She was our first duck and she taught us a lot. She always says hi in the morning and gets into trouble. Standing on top of the nest box and figuring out how to escape from her duck house into the larger enclosure. We will always have this breed because of their great personality. She has also been a great layer.

Gina W. | Happy and Healthy!

Ok I've gotta say I was a little scared to receive my ducklings via mail. There are so many bad experiences people have had and I didn't want the same. So I crossed my fingers and submitted my order (1 male and 1 female welsh harlequin). I've gotta say, Metzer farms has got their act together! The babies were and still are happy and healthy little cuties. They weren't sickly or half dead, they're full of life! They were also packaged very well and their warmer was still warm after receiving them. Everything went down like clockwork, just as Metzer farms explained. I extremely appreciated the informative emails with links on how to care for the babies once I got them home. I'm very happy with the whole experience and with Metzer Farms! I will be returning to Metzer farms for more orders when I'm ready because I trust the outcome.

Liz M. | Very Happy Owners!

We ordered 1 Welsh Harlequin and 1 Grimaud Hybrid Pekin. They arrived this morning and are alert, active and healthy. The packaging was very secure and had everything the ducklings needed during shipping. We are very happy with the quality of the birds so far and I would definitely order from Metzer again.

mary maldonado M. | A very pleasant eperience

All of the ducks arrived lively and healthy. I ordered the welsh harlequins based on the summary of the breed provided by Metzer and feel they will be a good all purpose duck for our small flock. I also got some mixed ducks to make up the numbers for shipping. I'm not sure what they are but look forward to seeing how they mature. I would definitely order from Metzer again.

Lawrence H. | Review for Feathered Overlords

They arrived in South Dakota strong and healthy. They keep complaining that you did not let them hang out on the beach before shipping them to S.D. Otherwise they tell us everything we do wrong. This is not our first rodeo, however I don't believe they are impressed with us. Judging from how much we get the dirty looks and constantly are chewing us out. Maybe they should be writing the review. (Or maybe they do, they seem to be constantly plotting against us, talking to themselves all the time.) Truth told we love them and they are strong, healthy, and opinionated. Thank you Lawrence

Brandee B. | Ducks Arrived in Perfect Health

Our two new duck hatchlings just arrived a few hours ago. As soon as the postal worker handed me the box I could hear them! They were perfectly healthy. I immediately dipped their bills in their water and they took their first drinks! Impressed with the box they were sent in. Will order from Metzer again!

Heather B. | Welsh Harlequin

My ducklings arrived happy and healthy. Beautiful duckling and very sweet.

Stephanie H. | Happy and healthy ducks

I have had my 6 Welsh Harlequins for a year. They arrived healthy and active. They are good layers and people friendly ducks. The blue in their wings is beautiful. They get along great with my Ancona ducks and drake. They are good with my chickens. I enjoy watching them. They always make me smile.

Sherrie W. | Great girls

I ordered 8 girls last June. They arrived in great shape and have thrived. They have started laying and I have been getting 6 or 7 eggs daily. So, there is a slacker among them but no one is fessing up. They are calm and everyone comments on how pretty they are. I would definitely recommend them if you are wanting some sweet layers.

Serena W. | Beautiful Friendly Bird

My order of 1 female Welsh Harlequin and 1 female White Layer arrived around a month and a half ago now, and they are growing like crazy! Both ladies have their adult feathers starting to come in and the Welsh Harlequin patterning is beautiful. These are our first ducks, so we weren't really sure what to expect, but they are the sweetest and most inquisitive birds. Both LOVE climbing into our laps for pets and naps, and have very much enjoyed the array of leafy greens we have been presenting them with (Pak Choi is a clear favorite). The Welsh Harlequin in particular loves bath time and splashing around in their large water dish, and it has been a blast to watch them dive for treats in their swimming pool. Thank you Metzer for such friendly girls! We absolutely love them.

Alala A. | A Wonderful Experience

I was very skeptical about ordering my ducks online and them arriving in a healthy state. With all my worries, I placed my order and hope for the best. My experience with Metzer Farms couldn't have been better. My ducklings (2 females, 1 male) arrived safe, sound, and full of energy. They are so inquisitive and immediately took to the entire family. Very docile breed and we love having them around. They got along well with our Khaki campbell after the pecking order was established lol. They're almost 3 months old now and their adult feathers are beautiful. Several of our deliver companies have been caught taking pictures with them. Overall I could be more pleased

Kellen W. | Cute happy healthy baby ducks!

Second time I have ordered from Metzer farms and second time I have been pleasantly impressed. I ordered 5 welsh harlequins and all five were picked up happy, healthy, and eating food and drinking water within minutes. Years of joy coming to me with the flock!

Kimberly H. | Beautiful, healthy Welsh Harlequins

Our birds arrived in perfect condition and our new Welsh Harlequins are healthy, beautiful birds. We've had multiple orders from you and each one has been an excellent experience. We highly recommend Metzer Farms to others. -Oak Pond SC

Cynthia H. | Sweet little ducks

I rarely right reviews but I wanted anyone considering ordering ducklings by mail to know that if you live in the Midwest, Do NOT order until at least May. The postal service in this area is the lousiest in the country. Metzer Farms however is a wonderful hatchery that will immediately refund or replace ducklings that are lost during shipping. Sadly today upon receiving my shipment I discovered that one of the female welsh had passed away in the box on its way to my local post office. What a short horrible life that baby had. The little ducks shipped out on Monday afternoon from Tennessee, arrived in Detroit MI Tuesday night, then arrived at a distribution center in Toledo OH Wednesday morning, where they sat all day before being taken to my post office at 4:30 in the afternoon. The postal workers in this small town post office, told me that farmers in the area commonly receive boxes of deceased birds due to the USPS treating the packages as they would any other, with no sense of urgency or concern.

Helen K. | amusing lovely ducks

Four Welsh harlequin and one Khaki Campbell ducklings arrived in December healthy and alert. They are 1.5 years old now, enjoying lots of attention and care. The Khaki Campbell is the smallest but the loudest with a quite a range of sound. They all come running/waddling if they see us with treats, very adorable. They crowd around if they see a potential for worms, like digging in a garden. They've been producing 4-5 eggs/day during the winter months. They forage throughout the day, moving as a unit. They love watermelon, clean water, peas, cooked brown rice and beans, oat cereal/cheerios (ones without any sugar), lettuce.

Katie L. | Great Packaging and Customer Service!!

I had ordered two WH and some Call Ducks. The box they were shipped in was amazing! They had two heating pads and was well insulated (we live in ND and I was worried about the cold, so I had them delivered in Mid April) all the ducks came and are alive and well and very feisty!!

Karen M. | Happy ducks

Very beautiful ducks. They arrived safely to Pa and are a great addition to our farm.

zachary O. | will be buying more in the future will recommend to anyone

severe weather delayed speedy shipping, was shipped Monday and got them Friday, was extremely nervous that i was going to get dead ducklings, but when they came today, they are active and the best part they where alive,, the heat pack was still providing the heat needed and there was water and food provided for the trip, i ordered two chocolate runners and two welch harlequin, i am satisfied with my purchase.

Karen A. | Arrived happy and healthy

We received our Silver Appleyards and Welsh Harlequins together. They made it all the way from the Tennessee hatchery to Interior Alaska with no issues! Would absolutely purchase again if we were in need of more.

Cassie C. | Love Our Little Harlequin!

We got our little Harlequin (named Harley by my son) along with a Silver Runner (substituted for a Blue Runner) and an African Gosling. She was looking on the dehydrated side. We gave her the supplement ordered as an extra to have on hand just in case, made sure she was drinking (sometimes having to prompt her) and she did great. She's such a sassy little thing (much like our Pekin gal but actually louder, I didn't think that was even possible) with a strong quack! She loves being with us and follows us around and looks for us when we're out of sight, quacking loudly. She also responds when called. If we don't see her we call and she responds by quacking and often times comes running with her Runner/Gosling crew. She's so much fun, a face biter but fun. We call her the Viper cause she'll stare you in the face before striking at your eyes or grabbing your lip. I have to remind the kids not to stay in her face but they are tempted to because she allows it, just standing there on the ground next to them.... waiting. I think the eye lashes resemble a bug cause I've had one of our other ducks (Swedish) do that as ducklings. They've learned her discreet signals though so now know when to back up a bit. She's such a character and we love her very much.

Jillian C. | Growing our flock

My favorite breed of duck. As a whole they have proven to be one of the friendlies duck breeds we have owned. They love to garden with me and train remarkably fast. When our drake died last winter we had no question where to go to replace him. The two we ordered this time were bright and friendly from day one. We ordered unsexed and received one boy and one girl, perfect for adding to our flock.

Carrie C. | Beautiful lady

I was worried when they got shipped all the way here in New Hampshire in April. I ordered 2 ducks, the other was a silver appleyard Both were happy and healthy At just a little over a month old she is stunning to look at and has grown so much. . Very happy with my ducks i received

Jean L. | Happy Box of Quackers

I am absolutely thrilled with the Welsh Harlequins I received, back in April. They have been raised with Toulouse Geese and an Embden that I received at the same time, and they are the highlight of my day, When I come home from work, they come running, quacking and honking away, as if they are telling me all about their day. I have to say that they are a little on the mischievous side, but their antics just make them that much more endearing. They tolerate my 11 month old Greater Swiss dog (who thinks that he is their size and desperately wants to play)... They arrived happy and healthy and I will be a forever customer of Metzer Farms..

Helen L. | Arrived Happy and Healthy Even in August

I ordered 5 Welsh Harlequins in the 3rd week of August. I was nervous about ordering them this late in the summer and about the heat with shipping. The forecast showed a week of mid-80's, as opposed to high 90's. Also, as I live in Northwest Arkansas and the Memphis hatchery is only 5 hours away, I was hopeful the ducklings would make it safely. Amazingly, the USPS tracking followed them along the way. I knew when they left Memphis, when they arrived in Little Rock, and when they left Little Rock in transit to me. You shipped them on Tuesday morning and the postmaster in my tiny little town called me by 9 am on Thursday morning. All 5 ducklings, 4 females and 1 male, were bright-eyed, peeping and sticking their bills through the holes in the box. They are voracious little eaters and drinkers. Several already have little personalities we can differentiate. Very pleased so far. I'll keep you updated.

Dorthy Nichole M. | Welsh Harlequin Ducks

I got Welsh Harlequin Ducks the beginning of this year and they have ben great and they started laying eggs late August and have been almost everyday since. I highly recomend getting them from metzer farms!

Olivia V. | 3 Female Welshies That I LOVE

Like others, I had read many reviews online regarding shipping of ducklings. When I received my three girls, in April, they all came happy, healthy and alert. The littlest one needed some help finding the water and I made sure she knew where it was by introducing and re-introducing it to her every half hour. They are all very healthy and I have just started to receive eggs from one, but I'm assuming the other two will start any day. Developmentally they were always behind by a few weeks to a month. I love the ducks more than I thought I ever would and they truly are great pets. I named them after the three fairies in Sleeping Beauty, Fauna. Flora, and Merriweather. They're great. I have to hold back from ordering more because it was such a great experience.

Chuck C. | Beautiful Ducks with Personality

First time duck owner here. I was told Welsh Harlequin are a quiet breed and if I were to breed them they can be sexed by beak color after hatching; so I ordered 3 ducklings in late April of this year. 1 Male and 2 Female; they are really funny ducks and likes to chase each other around. I have one girl that is patterned like a snowy owl very beautiful. They like to hang around my large goldfish pond and they are excellent slug hunters; which proves a great help to my vegetable garden. Although, regarding feeding, my ducks are picky eaters; they seem to have a penchant for koi and goldfish pellets and napa cabbages. My drake is a chatty duck and the girls are real quiet; it's to a point that you didn't know they are there. Great birds; will order more to add to my collection.

Whitley G. | Beautiful ducks!!

I have cayugas that I hatched and raised myself but needed more females and have always wanted the welsh harlequin. I never had ducklings shipped to me before and was nervous for the 2 day period of waiting. I got 4 ducklings in July 2024 and, sadly, one did not make it. After filling out the loss form, I was immediately sent a replacement with a travel companion. My girls are all adults now and they are so healthy and beautiful! They each have their own personalities and have slight color variations in their feather patterning that help distinguish who is who. Very friendly and got along just fine after being integrated with my main duck flock. I am happy with the service and care provided to get these ducks to me here in MN!

Amanda W. | Great family birds!

We have gotten 3 Welsh Harlequin's from Metzer and they are wonderful. 2 of the 3 don't mind being held, the 3rd is pretty skittish although she was raised with the others. That being said they won't let you just pick them up, but once you're holding them, they calm down and cuddle into your neck. They are very smart. They will go back to their cage when they are out foraging if I say "go home girls" and they will go in their house at night when I said "let's go night night." They will eat treats out of my hand and follow me around the yard like I'm their Momma (I mean in my eyes I am!). They are overall very calm birds, just cautious.

Brittany S. | Great

This little duckling came super fast and healthy!

Jon S. | My favorite pets!! A joy to have and watch!!

I ordered 10 ducklings and they have happy and healthy since day 1. They fun to have around and I'm really looking forward to when they start laying eggs in a couple months. They're very social and can be quite amusing.

JILL W. | Adorable

The Welsh Harelquin are such a joy. Healthy active sweet little babies.

Nancy N. | Welsh Harlequin ducks at our house!

Thank you Metzer Farms for the beautiful set of seven silly ducklings to go with my two Embden geese. I cannot get enough of them. They are so cute and we really love them already. The geese are already watchdogs for the ducks. Thanks for the care for my little order!

Liz I. | Love them

We got our 4 girls in April they are beautiful and full our personality. We got these girls along with 4 Cayuga's and the Welsh are not as social and are stand off a bit more. Very smart learned the daily routine quickly. They arrived quickly and perfectly packaged. Very satisfied with our order. We are at capacity but if ever needed we will be return customers.

Krystal H. | Quality family members

There is a HUGE difference in my babies recieved from metzer in comparison to many other big named locations in the best ways. I will never get another duck from anywhere else. Their disposition, their colors, their personalities, the helpfulness and excellent communication from the staff. So many things. I've never had a more positive experience or been more in love with my new additions.

Aleetra S. | Beautiful

I love the two Welshs I purchased in the spring. The patterning is just beautiful. I like their size as well.

Zoey S. | Very Cute and Noisy

So happy with our 5 babies, all arrived in perfect condition and our little Welsh girl is so stinking adorable and lively!

Eric G. | Could not be happier

To say I love them is an understatement! They came in healthy and are thriving! Very very happy!