I love all ducks so it's really hard to pick out a favourite breed. Most domestic ducks are derived from Mallards so their personalities are similar. I've had several different breeds of ducks. I've found the lighter weight breeds to be more skittish but they usually become calmer when they're older. If I had to pick a favourite breed it would be Silver Appleyard ducks. They seem to have more character and are somewhat friendlier. They're large ducks and the females lay really well. I'd recommend 2-6 ducks for new owners. Of course the pen size will depend on the number of ducks you end up with but the more room they have, the fewer problems there are. The most important thing is to limit the number of males. If you have 6 ducks then no more than 2 should be male.

Birds tend to grab the animals and leave, if the prey is too big to fly off with they will rip off some meat and eat it then leave, probably not a bird. If the scratch is on one wide and there is no damage on the other it must have been claws not teeth so a cat is most likely the culprit, also since they weren't all eaten or taken a domestic animal is likely. i.e. some jerk thinks its alright to let out his cat. sorry for your loss.

I agree with the runner duck recommendation, though my true love is the Muscovy, which is MUCH LARGER and quieter. I purchased runner ducks, a couple of years ago, built their pen right into the side of my main vegetable garden. Let them roam in the garden, during the winter, with success. They did hunt bugs and slugs very well. But when I let them out into a fairly mature garden... HOLY DEMOLITION CREW! They were picking cucumbers, hollowing out immature muskmelons and uprooting onion plants! I had to put them up in their pen and only let them roam in the pasture, outside the garden, where they feasted on grass hoppers, etc. Having said that, I still say that ducks are WONDERFUL creatures! They are my favorite fowl, and we raise turkeys, two breeds of heritage chicken, and have raised guineas. I've gone back to Muscovies simply because I like to eat duck, and the Muscovy produces a much larger carcass. The Muscovy is much calmer than the runner duck. But it is also much larger. It would squash a lot of plants if allowed in the garden. We too, enjoy duck eggs. They are really large, and very good eating. George Tahlequah, OK

Is it because the water tastes funny? After the kids were in it.. (lotions, soaps, etc) or do you think they are just frightened? If its the first you can change some of the water if its the 2nd they will go back in after they realize that its quiet and ok to go back in.