Magpie Ducks

[Mother Duck]

Does anyone know where I could buy show quality Magpies? Holderread has sold all of his and won't be breeding them any more. Thanks

 

[taras.farm]

ME! ME! ME!...lol
I'm guessing you are in the states though...I'm in Ontario Canada...been breeding and raising awesome magpie ducks for 5 years now....6 of my breeders are from Holderreads last year...a couple from 2 years prior and other blood from a line I've been working on for a couple years now...We have had good success showing...
I should put pics up...been off this forum for a while..and do miss the group...winter is here so more time to be online now....but of course all those ducks keep me busy even in winter! ...LOve my ducks....where are you anyways?...maybe i can try to help somehow...
Breeding Rouens,Magpies,Saxony and Mandarine ducks

 

[Mother Duck]

I would love any help you could offer. I live in the upper peninsula of Michigan, Houghton to be exact. I am not sure what it would require to ship birds from across the border. I would really like to get some magpie ducklings or some black ducks for my dear Bennedict (he's a sweety and runs up to me and talks all the time.) By the way, who is that beautiful duck in the photo by your name?


Thanks,
Sara

 

[bemba]

I have two they are very cute and too much personallity for ducks.

This is their faforite spot and favorite pool even though they have a nice deep tub.

Is it just me? or do these look like muscovy mules? well the one on the right moreso than the one on the left.

 

[Mother Duck]

They do look like muscovy mules, especially the one on the left. That duck has the bumpy skin just above the bill.

 

[taras.farm]

Beside is my beautiful white mandarin drake. It was a sad day when an ermine got him...evil critter. Never lost another duck since...just one of those moments in life I guess...still have his partner, a daughter and another pair or normal coloured ones.
Anyways,back to Magpies...don't know what it'd take to ship them...I imagine vets and paper work...I should one time look into the procedure...I've recvd ducklings from a wonderful waterfowl sanctuary you all know in OR shipped to NY and crossed to Canada...health certificate/paper is $150...so I imagine the procedure for smaller breeders be similar. When I see what the options are I will notify here...even hatching eggs...we ship those across Canada every spring...right now much focus is on our Waterfowl/Poultry/Gamebird mounted feeders we produce...which I will post in sales section soon. Busy mom ...you know how it is!
Here is more pics of some of my crew.






























I have a flock of 18 magpies.7 saxony.8 rouen and 4 mandarines. QUACK! Smiling....a good chunk of winter time for chores on these guys...still working on a duck waterer...still experimenting and needs another improvement before i offer it out to others through my site...i love my ducks! but not the water chore-especially in the winter...they need baths and full facial access to drink and clean...best for healthy happy ducks...I'm devoted to letting ducks love their water and keeping those hobbyists loving ducks!
Although lately I'm planning my first batch of baby Magpies again...the kids miss the brooder age and those first swims...I try to get breeds separated mid february... for 1st setting late march into April and 2 more in May...hatching eggs after that go out or in between settings....in the meantime it can get pretty noisy at feeding time and when i call the stragglers in before dark! Anyone else have Magpie pics to share?

 

[Westguy]

Taras,

Nice looking Magpies. I especially like your Blue Pair. I raised Magpies for a number of years. Enjoyed seeing how variable the markings were from one bird to the next. I was quite surprised to hear Holderreads dispersed their flock.

Chris

 

[taras.farm]

Yes Chris,As soon as i heard i contacted wanita! What?...The blue ones are real nice and for some reason my blue males are much more calm than the blacks...The black males are pretty fighty around mating season...I'm separating my groups next week for this 2013 spring batch...Finding out Holderreads is no longer breeding magpies helped in the fight with hubby and reason to keep some of my extras longer! LOL...last fall was the first season i didn't dispatch extra magpies to the freezer (lucky me)-I got some late and they weren't quite filled out enough...been a tough winter feeding 45 ducks!...but gives me more to work with if anyone comes knocking this spring for the breed...now if only the weather here would become more consistent and they would start laying for me! Then i could get this springs ducky orders in line. Ontario winter has been crazy....snow melt ice snow ice melt snow...duck management always consumes my winters...keeping feet healthy and birds in great feather a real chore! I'm pleased with my flock and hope to show some again this year in our area. Thanks for pulling me back onto the forum time to snoop around ...and be tempted to start eggs..oh my

 

[Westguy]

Taras,
Sounds like you have a very healthy flock of Magpies. Interesting that you point out the aggression in your Blacks. Im sure that will fade once breeding season ends. I don't envy you with all that snow. We usually have frost which is quite bearable. I imagine your birds will start production in a few weeks and then you will get inundated with eggs. Fun times!

Chris

 

[Shewholovesducks]

I'm curious about them as well! I was going to get ancona's but read somewhere that ancona's are nothing more then mixed up Magpies. Are they really that similar? Are they friendly birds that lay lots of eggs and are they small or medium? Once place sold them as small birds 4-5 pounds but another 5-6 or 8 pounds so I'm a bit confused???