I have some questoins . I posted detailed pictures with questions and pictures. any one out there th

[CelticOaksFarm]

However, only think they tend to love on water ( wood ducks, mandarines and pin tales) are these meal worms. Water is crystal clean from having UV light in it.

this is what I wasnt understanding

 

[Koipondduck]

Oh I meant meal worms.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

As far as letting the mallards fly away, that is illegal to buy captive reared mallard and then release them into the wild. Net them and sell them at the auction if you dont want them, but dont release them.

Best to read up on their dietary needs before just throwing anything at them. If you feed Mazuri you dont need any other commercial bagged feed. As I stated before you dont them to grow large (as in heavy/fat) they are meant to be lean and small.


Maybe the info below will be of use to you, it is geared towards Mandarins


Quote: Wild Diet


Quote: Captive Diet

 

[Koipondduck]

I meant only thing ( not think) they love on water is meal worms and they go crazy. sorry, I am a bit tired since I had to build an aviary that cost $2500 i nthe last month and a half with pumps, painted not only the aviary but also the house. Yes your right after having two masters ( MBA & an MPA) and doing so well to keep an outstanding GPA, I should not be typing like that. It made you confused.

I hope I know more fresh food that I can feed my wood ducks as I read in the Gazette magazine .. they like arrow head seeds and since I have tons in the pond, I pick them up and feed them. They tend to pick on it. Also, I have been watching, white manderines love every thing. Now they are eating parrrott feathers that also grow in my pond.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

I think the responses you sometimes get are directly related to how you post, you seem to be bragging listing how much your enclosure cost and your degrees. This turns people off as it makes you appear a snob who just wants to have other oooh and ahhh at your posts and not actually listen to advice given again and again to your questions.

Its best when you are new and seeking help, to not put people off by coming off as look at how great I am I spent all this money on an enclosure, so obviously I am a wonderful duck owner. Money and degrees dont make someone a good owner. Asking questions, researching, and listening to those who often know better than you because they have raised the breed will start you off on the right foot to be a good owner and care giver. When you argue over answers given time and time again that the enclosure is too small for how many you have it will put people off to you. It makes you appear to not want help, or to become educated on the needs of the birds.

We are a working farm, every month there is a new building or enclosure to be worked on or built, or added to, or something. We keep multiple breeds of ducks and geese as well as other animals.

Personally I could care less what degrees you hold, or how much you spent on an enclosure. What I care about is if when you ask a question do you listen, do you follow through to the advice given (especially when its the same advice time and time again from multiple sources). Or do you just argue and state well I was told this by "experts" never taking into account that many offering advice on here are also experts in their own right.

 

[Koipondduck]

Hi, what is your name? Thanks for all the information. I am a perfectionist and I will follow everything you mentioned. Also, locally the guy that sold me mallards and I did not know anything back then reared them in home for a year. The gentleman that he got it from also gave me a note stating they got mallards from an auction. However, if they fly away as I have seen mallards landing in my Koi pond, how would I control that? They are in outdoor and I really cannot control their nature.


I wonder if I can just get small fish from the outdoor pond and feed them. I have tons of Auction that fall on the pond, I will feed them that in fall. I just sold water plants and saw every where I moved water lettuce and hyacinths, there are baby fish, either Kois, subankins or comets all over.

Gosh my aviary pond water is crystal clear from having a UV unit and Bio filter and I feel good about it. . I am not asking you questions but just stating what is going on.

MY friend says it is mean to feed them my Koi pond babies but they lay so many eggs, it is not possible to keep them all. May be I should give them those minnows.

 

[Koipondduck]

No, I think you are mis understanding my posts. I meant to state and just talked to a friend stating that I did not know how I ended up spending $2500 for a small Aviary. I did not mean to
brag but to just state what I did. As far as my degrees, I stated I can't believe that I had so many typing mistakes. I did not brag about it.
Anyway, I feel, some here are excellent communicators and some are not.


I am just shocked how you drew upon the conclusion that I am bragging about pricing and my degrees. I stated that it is amazing how I spent quickly this money and "typing mistakes" since I had to type 50 page long papers for 35 times. I do not care if you care about my degrees but I do and since you can come out so abruptly and state it, I think it is best I leave Backyard chicken.com . Every advise you gave me I took it with respect for you to make such a comment that can be damaging to others feelings..

 

[Koipondduck]

Here is a post from someone that I like. She had been helping me all along and I respect every thing she says. She is stating that she feels I spend a lot money and I was just trying to ask the same thing " if I spent a lot and if I used to much stuff in there" like hardware cloth etc, I did not meant to brag.g.

"It looks like you spent alot of money on your aviary and it is very pretty, one thing I didn't mention is that crowding will cause feather picking too, so be careful not to add too many birds so they won't be crowded. And be sure that lil duck house you have for your mallards has windows or some kind of ventilation in it, they need good air circulation to stay healthy. Are you able to get them inside at night now?
Living in the Beautiful Mountains of Western N.C.. with 30 chickens, various breeds, 13Muscovy ducks, 1Embden Gander, 4 dogs, pond goldfish, and a wonderful Husband who makes it all possible..♥"

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Sorry but that is how you appear to be coming off time and time again. It makes communicating with you very hard. You may not mean it that way, but when you first started posting you were not quick to take advice and were quick to point out all the money spent on Koi and ponds and plants and landscaping. I was very nice in how I expressed the fact that you come off snobbish. There is no need to list all your degrees, they have no impact on here, typos are made by everyone and frankly if someone cares about typos they need a reality check on whats important. Everyone on here is here to learn and share knowledge of how to best care for ducks. I could list all of my background, but seriously it doesnt matter except for the fact that my background includes animal science and vet training.

so back to the subject at hand

Your enclosure is nice, i would remove the shelves they are pointless for the ducks you have. I would sell of multiple pairs and keep 6 and no more in that enclosure. Replace the shelves with multiple nest boxes for them to select from. Plans for propper nest box houses can be found online for wood ducks. (dont confuse them with wild bird houses or chicken nest boxes)

The mallards should be netted and sold, just because they can fly doesnt make it right to let them be released. Just because someoen else does it, also doesnt make it right.

Feedin I think you are over thinking, it is great to offer a variety, but as I stated before you dont need to blend the three commercial feeds together. mazuri is fine on its own and add in seeds, fresh green, bugs ect.

Netting the unwanted or over populated small baby fish from your pond is a great way to population control and provide a free food source to your ducks. I say go for it. They will love it, you will not worry about the fish pond becoming over stock, thats a win win

Feed only enough to be cleaned up in 1 day, re-feed the next morning. If it rains and blows into the enclosure, be prepared to toss the wet feed and replace with fresh dry feed.

You live where it snows. Best plan now how you will provide wind breaks and stop snow drifts from blocking your access to the pen, and from effecting the pond as they will need the water all winter too. You dont want to fully close off the pen as you also still good air flow for ventilation. Just good to plan ahead and have the panels on hand to help provide shelter from winter elements.

 

[Koipondduck]

Excellent advise.

I have a question. do you understand how frustrated someone can be that just fell into this and trying to make the best with everyone's advise and did every thing with in a month and a half?
With a lighter note, I appriciate all of your help but if I do not like someone, I do not "further communicate" with them but you continued to do so.

I am confused but again, I appricate your assistance so far in most maters. ............. Again, I am pround to be well educated since it took lol my health almost, and no one will tell me to ttake that away from me.


If you feel that I am a snobb, then may be it is best that you choose wisely to further communicate with me further. I am not telling you not to but you choose.....