About Us
Founded with a love for animals, nature, and meaningful experiences, Monarch Hill Farm & Gardens is a charming family farm dedicated to creating unforgettable moments for visitors of all ages. Nestled in the countryside, our farm is home to miniature cattle, Nigerian Dwarf goats, miniature donkeys, chickens, ducks, and other lovable animals that bring warmth and personality to every visit. From peaceful walks around the property to fresh eggs and handmade goods at our farmstand, Monarch Hill offers a place to slow down, reconnect, and experience the simple beauty of farm life.
Call Ducks:
Colors, Care, Breeding & Availability
Small in size, full of personality, and impossible to ignore, Call Ducks are one of the most charming breeds of domestic waterfowl. Known for their compact bodies, expressive faces, and distinctive voices, these little ducks make wonderful additions to hobby farms and experienced waterfowl homes.
Are Call Ducks Noisy?
Female Call Ducks are known for their loud quack, which is where the breed gets its name. Although Calls have not been bred as working decoy ducks for many generations, the hens still retain their strong calling instinct and may become especially vocal when excited, separated from their flock, or seeking attention.
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Drakes are typically much quieter and produce a softer, raspy sound.
Because of the hens’ volume, potential owners should consider their neighbors, local ordinances, and housing situation before adding Call Ducks to their property.
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Breeding and Egg Production
Call Ducks can become fertile during their first year and may have a relatively long breeding season. A Call drake may successfully live with several hens, allowing established breeding groups to be maintained as pairs, trios, or small groups.
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Many Call hens lay clutches of approximately 6 to 12 eggs. Egg production can vary considerably depending on the individual duck, breeding line, body type, age, health, season, and environment.
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Extremely small exhibition-type Calls may lay fewer eggs and can sometimes be more difficult to breed successfully. Producing exceptionally compact show birds may require intensive selective breeding, which can occasionally affect fertility, hatchability, or overall hardiness.
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Our priority is always to raise healthy, hardy Call Ducks with excellent quality of life rather than focusing solely on producing the smallest possible exhibition body type.
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Call Duck Colors
Call Ducks are bred in a beautiful and continually expanding variety of colors and patterns. White and Grey are two of the best-known and most established varieties, but many additional colors are now enjoyed by breeders and Call Duck enthusiasts.
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Colors and varieties may include:
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Grey
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Pastel
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Snowy
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Silver
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Blue Fawn
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Butterscotch
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White
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Chocolate
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Pied
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Magpie
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Penciled
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Black
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Blue Magpie
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Apricot
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Bibbed varieties
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Available colors will vary by season, breeding pair, hatch results, and individual development.
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About the Call Duck
The Call Duck was first developed in Holland during the 1600s. These small ducks were originally used as live decoys by hunters. Their compact size made them easy to transport, while the hens’ loud and distinctive calls helped attract wild ducks.
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Today, Call Ducks are primarily raised as companion, breeding, and exhibition birds. They are among the most popular exhibition duck breeds and often represent one of the largest waterfowl entries at poultry shows.
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According to the American breed standard, a well-developed Call Duck should have:
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A short, deep, rounded body
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A high-crowned head
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A broad skull
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A short, wide bill
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A compact and balanced appearance
Adult Call Ducks generally weigh approximately two pounds, although size and body type can vary between breeding lines.
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Temperament and Personality
Call Ducks are active, curious, social birds with large personalities packed into very small bodies. They enjoy interacting with their flock, exploring their surroundings, bathing, and participating in everyday farm activity.
They are generally hardy and relatively easy to care for when provided with:
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Secure predator-proof housing
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Clean drinking and bathing water
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A balanced waterfowl diet
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Protection from extreme weather
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Appropriate companionship
Call Ducks should not be kept alone because they are highly social and thrive with other ducks.
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Natural Mothers
Many Call hens have strong broody instincts and make attentive mothers. When permitted to hatch naturally, they may successfully incubate and raise their own ducklings.
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Call hens are also sometimes used as surrogate mothers for other small waterfowl eggs. Call ducklings are active eaters and can serve as helpful companions for more delicate or hesitant ducklings by encouraging them to find food and water.
Broodiness and maternal ability vary between individual hens, so natural hatching is never guaranteed.
Pet, Breeding, and Exhibition Quality
Our Call Ducks are raised primarily with health, temperament, structural soundness, and reproductive ability in mind.
Most available birds are offered as pet or breeder quality. This means they may be healthy, attractive examples of the breed without meeting every detailed requirement expected of a competitive exhibition bird.
Unless a duck is specifically identified as exhibition or show potential, buyers should not assume that the bird is suitable for competitive showing.
Photographs and additional information may be provided for birds that are specifically represented as possible show prospects.
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Choosing the Right Call Ducks
Before welcoming Call Ducks, prospective homes should be prepared for their social needs, water requirements, predator protection, and potential noise level.
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We encourage families to research the breed carefully and select ducks based on health, compatibility, temperament, and intended purpose. Buyers seeking highly competitive exhibition birds may benefit from working with a breeder who specializes specifically in showing and producing exhibition-quality Calls.
For availability, upcoming hatches, photographs, or information about our current Call Ducks, please contact us.