Buying some ducks-Picking them up Saturday

[happyhensny]

Going this weekend to buy some ducks from a breeder. They are sold as pairs, I am driving 2 1/2 hours each way to get them, my housing is a 4 x 8 shed with a attached 6 x 10 chain-link dog kennel run with a tin roof.

Ths choices are:

Mandarin

Wood Duck

Green-wing Teal

Blue-wing Teal

Cinnamon Teal

Black East Indies

Pintail

White-eye or Hardhead

Red Pochard

He told me that 5 pairs of the little ducks would be fine but I am thinking along the lines of 4 pairs. Thanks!

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

Oooooooooohhhhh, I vote for black east indies!

 

[GrannyCarol]

Well, I don't know anything about the wild ducks listed there, but do be sure their quarters are secure. I'm sure you know that, but it needs to have a smaller wire put over the chainlink to keep the smaller ducks in (and smaller predators out!) and will need to be covered as well. I'd do 18" of hardware cloth around the bottom to keep snakes out and 1" chicken wire over the rest of it. I use chainlink kennels with my domestic ducks, they work great. I have the bottom lined with hardware cloth, but one of the pens the gates aren't lined, there's a pretty good gap, and in the spring I seem to lose a lot of eggs out of that pen. I don't use it for small ducklings either, they go in the entirely secure one. Just some random thoughts.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

I would go with adding hardware cloth before placing any of them in the enclosure. Chain link opening will let them slip right on out, and if they hatch eggs the ducklings will slip out for sure. 1/2" hardware cloth on the inside will keep them in, and predators from reaching in and pulling them out.

Most of the wild types are great eye candy (we have a few) don't plan on picking them up like pet ducks.

 

[greymane]

Good advice on the pen. I have no experience with any of these (we have Calls and Cayugas), but I would vote for the Wood ducks or the Madarins.

Beautiful ducks.

 

[happyhensny]

We have chicken wire along the bottom 3 ft of the pen, the top is covered in 2 x 3 garden fencing then we added a slanted tin roof on top of that to keep the snow and rain out-covers the whole run.

My 2 DD's love the Teals so I am thinking BEI, Mandarins and 2 different Teals. Can't wait to go and see them in person!

 

[happyhensny]

Ok, after talking to the breeder we have decided on....

Black East Indies

Mandarin

Wood Ducks

American Pintails

Getting them Saturday!

Woohoo!!! I'll post some pics as soon as I get home!

 

[StevenW.]

You're gonna need to have a Permit for some of those Wild Ducks. The Wood Duck and American Pintail. Sorry.

I personally would vote for Black East Indies.. I love Black Birds!
I'm also getting some New ducks this weekend. A pair of call ducks and am driveing about 2 hours and 30 minutes one way to get them.

 

[happyhensny]

Quote:
We are getting a pair of each! Permit will be picked tomorrow morning. The DEC office is 20 minutes away, we are lucky they have office hours. After talking with the breeder he assured me these will be happy and get along with each other until spring, then he reccommended separating them, I already have areas for them. Thanks for reminding me about the permit.

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
We are getting a pair of each! Permit will be picked tomorrow morning. The DEC office is 20 minutes away, we are lucky they have office hours. After talking with the breeder he assured me these will be happy and get along with each other until spring, then he reccommended separating them, I already have areas for them. Thanks for reminding me about the permit.

I didn't know if you knew or not so I thought I should just point that out there.

Can't wait to see pictures of the ducks and their pen!