Mallard eggs

[MDeVry]

I'm ready!! My new hovabator with auto egg turner has just arrived. Now I need my eggs. I want mallards that I can raise and will fly. I have checked on the web and there are many different places and prices. What is the difference in mallards? Some fly and some dont? What is a call duck? Should I order eggs from somewhere close to my home in Chicago(dont tell my neighbors) so they wont be in the mail too long? Where is the best place to get eggs that has reasonable prices? I appreciate your help very much.

 

[Karen09]

I asked this same question about a month ago. You could try on craiglist in your area first. I also found some hatching eggs on http://www.efowl.com/Hatching_Duck_Eggs_s/96.htm . they are $2.78 a piece and they are in Minnesota so that isn't too far from you (comparitively speaking). Mallard Ducks are a bantam duck while some might try to sell you a mallard-colored duck. You can check out the differences on http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Ducks/BRKDucks.html. I had a lady sell me a "mallard pair of ducks." The male was a Rouen adn the female was a mix. I also bought some from Tractor supply but a couple ended up being a mix mallard with something else. The ones we have are nice and keep our bug and grub population down. Our yard was one of the only yards in the area that did not get infested by japanese beetles. Our ducks are free ranged and go in the creek so our neighbors yard also was japanese beetle free. We love having the ducks. Good luck!

 

[MDeVry]

thanks, I will check those sites. Do your mallards leave in the winter? When you order eggs, how do you know if you are getting a regular wild mallard or a mix.

 

[Karen09]

Since my mallards are domesticated ducks, they did not leave in the winter. I live in Western NY near Buffalo and we get the wonderful cold snowy winter with lots of wind and they did fine. I have a chicken coop they come in and got fresh water and food whenever they wanted plus I gave them corn scratch to warm their bodies up. How do you know? Good question - hopefully whoever sells you the eggs give you what you ask for. Good luck. Maybe someone on here will have mallard duck eggs they would be willing to give or sell to you.