Mandarin Duck thread ( for posting pictures and discussing)

[cjexotic]

No that is not true. I had some duckling hatch over the weekend and mom took them right in the pond and I had put some pavers in the pond and then a quarter log on the outside so they could climb the pavers and up on to the log. And mom showed them right off the bat how to get in and out.

 

[BYC-user-174785]

I always let my ducks incubate eggs, but I pull babies usually. This year I am letting my hens raise their own babies because I am sick of losing ducklings. The ones I raised in a brooder all survived except one white one (wood duck or mandarin) but every duckling survives with the hens. They are great. Just keep them separate from the others.

 

[TheYeldman]

Ok cheers that's put my mind at ease. I've only got the pair so hopefully they should be alright. Not really sure what's happening but the male's been in and out of the box all day coming out with down on his beak. Hopefully he's been eating empty shells and not the eggs!

 

[woodduck1]

in my experience it's not that they are not good mothers, but both Wood duck and Mandarin duck hens are pretty nervous and agitated when they first come off the nest and if there are other ducks in the pen with them, the other ducks might also start chasing and pecking the ducklings as they jump out of the nest box. So the hen are trying to call all the babies out, while protecting the ones that are already on the ground from the other birds in the aviary. The hens might be swimming back and forth, in and out of the pond calling the babies still in the box and the ones that already jumped, are trying to keep up with mom, following her in and out of the pond, at times they get confused and start following other ducks which turn around and attack them. it is a mess ! So the babies get exhausted and too wet from going in and out from being bullied around by other adult ducks and they end up drowning.

If you cannot be there tomorrow to watch them when they come off the nest, I would actually cover the pond if it's possible. Don't drain it cause they will fall in it and never get back out. But cover it with a board or something (I don't know how big it is).

 

[3BirdGirlz]

Look what I hatched ! It even has chick buddies that helped it eat and drink so it seems to be going great! My hen will be hatching her other eggs around Thursday. She laid so many eggs they didn't all fit in her nest box, so I took a few out before she started sitting....this is the only one I got to hatch. Can't wait to see how many she gets!

 

[BYC-user-174785]

Congrats! Good luck with them.

 

[TheYeldman]

Got 9 ducklings all keeping close to the mother. How long before she lets me get a proper look? She's very protective and nervous

 

[chickenlisa]

My Mama and her babies are still very hidden and they hatched on Mother's Day...they run to the shelter of the big dog house (attached to their pen) if I go toward the end where their branches and cover are...or they stay hidden under all the cover if I am at the end where the pool and shelter are.
Why I love them is beyond me. They are so skittish and never return the favor for sure. They are sweet though, and are the least noisy and least messy ducks I've had or ever will have.

 

[TheYeldman]

Here are a few photos I took of them. Cheers for all the information guys:

 

[BYC-user-174785]

Very cute and nice pictures!