A couple questions on wild breeds

[duckncover]

I really want to get a duck or 2 this spring. However I need something quiet and I don't think I can live with a muscovy and the red mask. I've heard that wild breeds are pretty quiet, smaller size, and they're just sooo beautiful!! I like wood ducks and mandarins. They seem like if anyone seen them they wouldn't recognize them as ducks and I could just say they are some other kind of bird. They are technically not allowed in my town but most of the higher ups like me and noise level isn't an issue since I have all sorts parrots but the problem would be quacking since that is recognizable from ducks. It would be fine if it isn't often or better yet isn't loud enough to be heard.

I want to know if gotta as day olds or hatched if they can be tame enough to be house pets. I would want a pair (if possible male/female)...I would be keeping them in a large dog crate (big enough for a tub of water) but they wouldn't be in there a lot if I can get them in diapers. Even if I can't I'll let them out for runs in my bedroom. I definitely would have them outside in the sun (wings clipped). I see a bunch of people keeping regular ducks as pets but I'd like to try this. Tell me how this sounds.

I also want to see who has them and if the people that do would sell day olds to me. I don't want a lot of them though because I really only want to keep a pair and sell the rest once they get a bit bigger. I was thinking I could even see if any other BYCers near me want to combine orders so I could get enough to ship safely. I really want to make this work. Thanks in advance for everything

 

[1lpoock]

Mandarins and wood ducks dont quack at all, they are really neat to listen to. They are not loud at all either. You probably wont find people that will sell you day-olds, but if you find a local breeder, you might be able to get some juviniles. I wouldnt recommend them though if you are going to keep them in your house, they love to fly and they love space.

 

[Hattiegun]

I have had only 1 duck and he was a wood duck named HotRod.. I live on a lake and he was lost
from his family... He was prbly 2 weeks old.. I knew NOTHING about ducks, but to make a long story'
short, He was an awesome loving , tame, smart duck..he lived in the house with us, i took him to work
with me at least once a week (being an only duck) and we swam on the lake everyday...
BUT, he was wild , and when he was around 2 months he started learning to fly...
His wild instincts really kicked in and he didnt want to stay any longer... (which I anticipated) he hung
around the lake another month or so, came back home every few days and i would feed him and sit
on the dock and hold him and then he flew south for the winter.... I would have loved for him to stay
but they have the WILD in them and I thought it would be cruel to MAKE him stay.. I cried for days after
he left... AND yes, he flew in the house ...lpook knows lots and lots about woodies...
I am getting calls this spring.. (domestic) lol....Good Luck

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yeah.....That really aint gone work with wild species. The other poster was a lucky one with theirs, and it was short lived sounds like. I have only heard of 1 woman who ever had success with "taming" a wild breed to the point of being GOOD household pets. And she was looney, lived 24/7 with them ,divorced her husband because he didnt like ducks in the house, etc. I mean DEDICATED!
They do tame down to a point of being very nice. friendly penned birds though. Wood ducks honestly are about the most skittish of the 100 or so species out there And the hens can be quite loud at times. Teal are much quieter, smaller, and tamer in general.
I doubt you would ever have a happy wild duck in diapers, this just ain t their style 9they arent like domestics at all in that aspect). They are much happier outside, on a pond , natural or man made. If penned, try to keep them in a aviary that is landscaped as natural as possible, and you will have healthy, happy, wild ducks.
And, like 1lpoock said, few if any breeders sell day olds,mainly all yearlings, or the occasional egg seller.
Good luck with your efforts!