Although chickens are the classic choice for the intrepid homesteader, I have always gravitated toward ducks. The eggs are superior, no contest. The meat is richer and more succulent. And the idea of keeping them makes all the more sense when both the eggs and meat are not widely available at stores. And if not for the huge mess they make, they would be a complete joy to keep. Just looking at them waddle around brings a smile to my face.

The Ancona duck is a somewhat obscure breed, and some people might even say it’s a stretch to call it a breed, as it’s origins are murky, and it is not currently recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA), though efforts are underway. I came across Anconas in The Resilient Gardener by Carole Deppe. An overall great book on creating gardens that can thrive with minimal inputs, her chapter on ducks were very formative for me. Deppe confirmed my bias that ducks were the perfect livestock for a permaculture homestead. She sung the praises of Anconas in particular, believing they foraged better than chickens, lay better at an older age and in the winter, are easier to keep out of the garden with two-foot fences, and are happy even during cold, wet winters. Add in their unique colorings and pattern to tell them apart and I needed little more to be sold.

The fact that Ancona ducks were listed at the time by the The Livestock Conservancy as in critical need of preservation confirmed my choice. By raising and breeding Anconas, we are not just producing eggs, but are helping support the continued existence of a valuable and underrepresented breed. And the hard work of breeders who are part of the Ancona breeding community has led to the Livestock Conservancy to change their conservation status from Critical, to Watch.