Mandarin Ducks Won't Eat! Please Help!

[RainForestBird]

I acquired 4 Mandarin ducks from an exotic bird ranch unexpectantly over the weekend (Saturday) They are adorable and young, don't know the exact hatch date, but the owner said "this year's hatch" and over six months old. 1 male and 3 females. I have been giving them water laced with Niacin and bird vitamins, All Flock and green peas. I would try other veggies but I don't want to make a mess from uneaten food and I heard that they like to eat feed floating in water. I have ordered Mazuri Waterfowl Starter because it floats but I'm worried they will not survive till it arrives. They have bene raised on gamebird feed, we don't have gamebird feed here. They seem ok, but every day I look and the feed has not been touched. They like the water but I don't know if they are bathing in it or drinking it. They seem wild and flighty, they were housed in a large pen before with lots of other birds, but not much contact with humans. They are currently housed and penned in quarantine from my other ducks. I have ordered materials to make a habitat for them with a proper nest box.

What do you feed your Mandarin ducks? What do they prefer, I'll buy lots of it. I drove 50 miles today to buy gamebird feed. Have not given them it yet because it was late when I got back. Thank you.

 

[The Phantom]

My friend sold a guy a crane and the guy thought it was sick. Come to find out it would not eat the kibble he was feeding it. So he was starving to death. He gave it the food that my friend had and he was fine. I would ask the guy what kind of food they were on. Try crumbles, pellets, mash, and kibble. What was the guys name that sold you the mandarins?
Hopefully you get it figured out!!

 

[RainForestBird]

the birds were on gamebird feed, I bought some at the feed store that was 50 miles away. Have not given it to them yet. I got back late.

 

[lena_]

Oh dear, hopefully you can get them to eat. Was their previous food a crumble, pellet or mash? Usually they'll recognize The food they were raised on. Have you tried wetting it? Maybe they'll want it then? If you really do think that they may starve, then you might have no choice but to force feed them. It's not nice, but dead ducks aren't nice either.
Could you post a picture of the enclosure and the ducks themselves? Maybe someone will be able to see some kind of issue.
Wishing you luck with your duckies!

 

[RainForestBird]

I drove 50 miles last night to pick up the exact crumble gamebird food they were on when I got them. They seem to be eating today and poking their heads out at the free ranging hens that have come around to see them. I think they are eating but I can't tell for sure because every time I come around they get nervous and go to the back of their pen, I can only see that the feed seems to be disappearing or dissolving into the ground. I have photos but they are on my phone and I am having problems uploading them. They seem young compared to photos I've seen of other full grown Mandarins. They are so beautiful. I filled a little box with shavings and dry leaves and they like to cuddle up there during the cold night and morning. I also completely barricade their enclosure at night so the wind doesn't blow through. They don't seem cold at all despite the freezing temps in the early morning. My chickens are staying snuggled in their coops at that time, except for the roosters. I hope the fencing comes in by Monday or Tuesday so I can put their big enclosure together. I'll put a small tree or bush in with them so they can roost and a nest box. I just have to figure out what grows well here.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can't wait to see pics!!

 

[Ducksandchickens]

Can't wait to see pics!!

x2

 

[RainForestBird]

Can't wait to see pics!!

This is a photo that I took the day I got them. They're a bit bedraggled looking because there was a big storm the night before and it was mud everywhere. They are bathing in their water pan now and the male's little plumes on the back of his wings are now all fluffed and fanned out. The white female is the most nervous. She bumps up against the side of the pen whenever I change the bedding or feed them. I'm hoping that once I get their big enclosure up that I can spend time taming them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are gorgeous. They look young do you know their age?

 

[The Phantom]

They are beautiful! My friend told me when he has a wild one he will pull a few wing feathers out so it can’t fly. Then it gets tamer and realizes you are not dangerous. He pulls them out because they will grow back. If you trim them it will be a few molts.