How do you incubate Mandarin eggs and raise Mandarin Ducklings?

[Chicken0Boy]

Thanks for that info! With that I might just let the moma take care of her babies not me.

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Quote:
You can clip them, but they need a pretty severe clip to stay grounded - and they DO climb. And they climb WELL. They will make it their business to find a way out of your yard - remember, they only have a few things to think about, like eating, sleeping, breeding, escaping - they may not figure it out right away, but they will figure it out! I have 2 acres fenced in here, and I wouldn't DARE let mine out, for fear that I'll never see them again. Thats why they live in a planted greenhouse.

Also, remember, wing clipping is temporary. Their feathers will grow back when they molt. You have to check them for feather growth constantly, because they're good flyers, and if a few feathers come back in alittle before they get clipped off, they'll be able to clear a fence pretty easily. And catching them for wing clipping is NOT an easy task! They would rather DIE than be touched, held or restrained!

Pinioning is another option, but that has to be done by the breeder when they're hatchlings - its the actual removal of the tip of the wing up to the first joint - this is where their primary (flight) feathers grow from. No wing tip = no flight feather growth. I don't care for that myself, but many people swear by it.

Not trying to be discouraging here - just realistic. Mandarins are NOT a domestic/barnyard duck and are not for the novice keeper. They're a wild species that originates in China - what you see in the pictures on the internet is exactly what you would see living in the wild there. And keeping wild birds in captivity differs GREATLY from keeping domestic birds in the yard.

 

[Scott]

You'll have better luck getting adult mandarins in the Fall. Thats when breeders usually have available birds for sell. Definately research them and their requirements before getting mandarins.

 

[jujubean99]

thanks for the advice, I don't want to have birds that are always unhappy and don't have enough space to fly and climb and do other birdly things. I think I will wait a while and see of I can't make a better environment for them before I get them. Thanks!

 

[chickensioux]

I have a pair of Mandies that freerange in my fenced backyard, they are pinioned. They are skittish but when they are not freeranging and are in their enclosure, I can go in and feed and clean and they don't freak out. They just walk around watching me. I have about 6-7 eggs under some hens now and will be selling mine when they are around 4-6 mos. old to be able to see who is male/female and sell as pairs. I won't ship tho.

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Now here are 3 more qs. Lol I am full of em'!


1) I plan on just buying one pair, and let them have babies.From thier babies I will keep a male and female and let that be my second pair. Is this okay, or will the genetics be messed up since they are from the same family?

2) In your post you said you could buy 2 pairs for 103$. (did you mean to say 1) Where is that? the cheapest I have seen is 90$.

3) BBB can you show me a pic of you aviary and setup? I would LOVE to see it!

 

[DMFarm]

Chickenoboy
Try this sight she has nice birds. My silver wood ducks, ring teal and greenwing teal came from her. There a lot of info on her sight
http://www.mallardlanefarms.com/
Doug

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Quote:
Thos are nice and the cheapest I have seen so far!

 

[Matapatos]

Mandarins can and most likely will breed their first spring... I have a pinioned female, but it is kinda sad to see her try and fly with the drake. There are quite a few people that do leave them under the hen for about 2 weeks, then take them from her and finish in an incubator. Sometimes they will lay a second clutch after you take their first one from them... I plan on doing this with anything other than first year birds. I've been told that even first year birds will double clutch, but I don't want to chance it. Good luck with them! They are beautiful birds. I love em!