Be part of the flock! 🦆

Join 500+ other duck owners for farm updates, practical duck tips, and trusted advice from Derek.

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Be part of the flock! 🦆

Join 500+ other duck owners for farm updates, practical duck tips, and trusted advice from Derek.

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Black Ducks

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Our Black Muscovy Ducks

Though there are various types of black ducks, like the wild American Black Duck, and the domestic Black Muscovy Duck, we hatch Black Muscovy Ducklings at our hatchery. These black ducks have iridescent feathers that shine green, blue, and sometimes purple, and their body is long and stout. Some black ducks have white wing patches, so they are not completely black.

Meat & Egg Production

Our black Muscovy ducks are great meat ducks with egg production as a bonus. Their meat is lean, dark, and rich, sometimes compared to beef, and drakes have a pretty heavy carcass with high meat to bone ratio. Females tend to be seasonal layers, and not industrial layers. They can lay up to 120-130 eggs a year, and are pretty famous for their broodiness.

Temperament

Most black duck breeds tend to be pretty calm, catious, and steady, though that varies a lot on breed. Our Black Muscovies tend to be pretty quiet and independent, and can be pretty gentle once they get to know you. These black ducks are not really quackers, they tend to make soft hissing sounds. Hens are nurturing and very broody, while drakes can be pretty respectful with usual handling, especially if it's not during breeding season.

  • Black Muscovy Ducks

    I have been really impressed with this company. I ordered 10 black female muscovy ducklings. I'm new to this and asked a question, and they provided quick and kind customer service. My babies are now 9 weeks old and doing great! Even prettier than I pictured!
    Liz Hammer

  • Black Muscovy Ducks

    Our ducks are doing well. They are all doing well except one, who was the runt. She is half the size of her sisters and very wobbly despite vitamins and minerals. At 8 weeks or so, she is still hanging in there. She is so sweet, we hope she survives. The rest are getting big. We got the black ones, and they are beautiful. Top-notch customer service! When we need more ducks, we'll be calling Shirlock Acres.
    A3FAN4EVR

Black Ducks FAQs

In the wild, “black duck” usually means a specific species, like the American Black Duck. In domestic flocks, “black” is just a color variety within a breed, not its own species. For example, a Black Muscovy and a Cayuga are two different breeds that both happen to be dark.

No, most black ducks like our Muscovy Ducks lay white or cream colored eggs.

No, as a general rule black ducks with normal handling can be quite calm and respectful.

Dark feathers do soak up a bit more heat, but healthy ducks are pros at cooling themselves by panting, bathing, and hanging out in the shade. As long as your black ducks have shade and plenty of water to splash in, they usually handle summer weather just as well as lighter-colored ducks.

Why Choose Shirlock Acres?

NPIP logo

NPIP-Certified Hatchery

From the moment a duckling hatches at Shirlock Acres, its health is our top priority. Because we’re an NPIP-certified hatchery, every bird is carefully monitored and tested to ensure its illness-free. When your ducklings arrive, they’ll be bright-eyed, energetic, and ready to thrive in your flock.

muscovy duck eggs in nest

Nearly 20 Years of Experience

In 2007, a few ducks in the Shirk family’s backyard sparked a passion that soon grew beyond our fence line. Today, Shirlock Acres ships ducklings across the country, but our heart is still rooted in family care. Roger and Derek Shirk continue to raise every bird with the same honesty and attention they’ve always given their own. Curious how it all began? You’ll find the full story on our About Us page.

incubator with duck eggs

State-of-the-Art Hatchery

From the moment they hatch, our ducklings are raised in a safe, well-kept environment where every detail is watched over with care. That attention ensures the birds you receive are healthy, thriving, and eager to settle into their new home.

Our Delivery Process

At Shirlock Acres, we take duckling delivery seriously. Before shipping, we hand-check every black duckling and only send the strongest, freshest birds. You’ll get a tracking number and a heads-up when your ducklings ship, plus you’ll need to pick them up from the post office as soon as they arrive. We tweak our shipping process for the weather, and if anything goes wrong within the first 24 hours, we’ll make it right.

  • Shipments go out Mondays (every Monday for Muscovy, every other Monday for Pekin & Silver Appleyard)
  • Ducklings are shipped 0-2 days old, hand-checked for health
  • Boxes include soft bedding, ventilation, dividers, GroGel, and heat packs in winter
  • Tracking number and pickup notification provided
  • Immediate care: preheat brooder (85-90°F), provide warm water with electrolytes, starter feed, and monitor activity
  • Live arrival guarantee: refund or replacement if ducklings don’t survive the first 24 hours (photo required)
Our Duck Delivery
khaki campbell ducks- female ducks

We offer shipping to all the lower 48 states, Alaska, and the US Virgin Islands using USPS Priority Mail.