Mandarin hatching eggs???

[TurtleFeathers]

I just saw an ad for mandarin hatching eggs on eBay (and they're pricey, too!) - now, I've always been told that mandarin eggs don't do well in shipping and that hatch rates would be extremely low, if any hatched at all. I mean, I know what can happen to CHICKEN eggs in shipping, never mind duck eggs, and sensitive ones at that... Can anyone tell shed any light on this for me?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

your dead on. Duck eggs, especially wild breeds ship poorly, and arent for a beginer hatcher. They are tuff to hatch all the way around. If I were you, do not buy eggs, they are rediculously priced, for what you'll pay for just a few eggs, you can easily buy a yearling pair and be way ahead of the game. Yearlings run $40-$60 a pair, any more and you're getting ripped off. $50 is a good average. And eggs are constantly $10 each or better, so dont waste your money on them please!
I can find you a good breeder if you 'd like
Aubrey

 

[LALADY1101]

I'm getting mandarin, teal and northern pintail eggs in the spring. I got a pair of Mandarins last May and while cleaning their kennel, the drake (Max) got out. We have a 2 acre pond in our backyard and they pretty much stay close to home, but they were sooooooooo wild when we got them that I'd like to start with eggs and see if I can hatch them. Hopefully they'll be somewhat tamer and not as skittish. They are definitely pricey!!!! I think each egg of the various above mentioned species is $8-9 PER EGG!!!!!! I got my Mandarins from a place out of CA.....by the time I had them shipped, it cost about $130 for the pair......so not too cheap to go that route either. Good Luck with whatever you decide!!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

check locally to find them, everyone has them to avoid heavy shipping fees, or buy multuple pairs together, shipping isnt much more for 1 or 7 in a box.
Good luck with the eggs, but buyer be warned, they dont ship well at all, much worse than any chicken egg in shipping.

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Quote:
Oh, no - *I* wasn't looking to buy eggs! Its just that people have been asking me to buy eggs from MY mandarins, and I really don't want to even attempt to ship them!!!

As for the prices of yearlings, WHERE does one get them for $50 a pair? I was going by prices I've seen on eggbid, and other places on the internet, but if I wind up selling ducklings in the spring, I certainly don't want to be ripping people off!

And what about prices of visual whites and split to whites?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Oh I got you. Thought you were asking advise on buying some.
As for prices, I raised 100+ species of waterfowl for 20 years, close to it at least, and had to sell out a few years ago, dying to get them back now, but any way. It's the Internet and the ohhh it's pretty I got to have folks that have prices up so high and the Internet (eggbid) seller are taking advantage of it.
I always bought and sold mandarins in the $40-$50 range, wood duck were $25 -$30 all day every day.
White mandarins should be in the $250 range little over or under, splits $100
Do you subscribe to the Game Bird Breeder's Gazette or A.P.W.S. ?
These are the 2 big publications for folks who specialize in waterfowl and pheasants, or any of the off the way stuff.
There are usually 15-20 pages of classifieds in each of them in every issue for every type of wild duck , goose, swan, crane, pheasant, etc that you can think of.
These guys selling mandarins at $70-$100 per pair , it's crazy!
If you ever need help or advise on wild waterfowl, ask me, I will be very glad to help. I know my way around them. At age 16 owned 80 species and some 400 birds and I was asked to house birds here for the Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society threw the winter while they were building a new facility for them, and I'm in Georgia! They sent a guy all the way down here to video my place, interview me, and put me and all the info he collected to the Board of Curators there at the Zoo, they approved me hands down. That was kind of the coolest thing I ever did!
Anyhow, if you have any questions on them feel free to ask!
Aubrey

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Quote:
Wow - I knew you were quite knowledgeable, but I didn't realize you were so accomplished!!! You DA MAN Aubrey!! LOL!

Ok, when you say mandarins in the $40-$50 range, you're talking a PAIR, correct? Or each? Are they ducklings, yearlings, adults, proven breeders, what? And the same questions go for your quote of $250 on whites?

As for splits, you're talking males, right? Its my understanding that both sexes can be visually white, but only males can be split (ie. sexlinked).

And what do you know about the white throated mutation? IS it actually a mutation?

I guess the people we see on egg bid and such are getting what the internet market will bear. Will have to look up the publications you mentioned...

So on eggs - is it best to let the mandarins hatch naturally then? I was told that you can let the female sit the eggs for the first 2-3 weeks and then immediately transfer them to an incubator for hatching, so that the ducklings can be handled from day one for socialization. If that CAN be done, how difficult are the ducklings to socialize so that they'll be trusting of humans? My little flock is slightly skittish - I got them last summer at 4 weeks old and they were very afraid - since then they've gotten to where they're very curious and they will come close when I stand still, and will occasionally eat out of my hand or stand on my foot. Touching them is out of the question tho, and if I make any fast movements, they run for cover. I was really hoping I could do something so that any ducklings I wind up with will be alittle calmer and trusting of humansl.

Hey, and BTW, remember that auction a while back? I thought it was like an eBay auction and that bids went in by $1 increments - I didn't realize my maximum bid would be what actually came thru!! Imagine my surprise!!! Still got a VERY good buy tho as far as I'm concerned - shipping was 20 bucks on top of it and they were delivered right to my door - and the ducks are perfect!!!

 

[countrychics]

thanks for the posrs kat... iwas the one who begged her to sell me the eggs... thank you for your honesty..you're the best, and on my buddies list now... hope to see you in the spring....dana

 

[geosheets]

Around here, normal colored mandarins and wood ducks go for 50-60.00 a pair... whites are a little more, usually 80.00 a pair. Split to whites go for the same as the normal colored. I agree with the others... save your money on the eggs unless you can get them local... even then I'd rather hatch them under a bird than in a bator.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

I'm in RUSH FOR WORKRIGHT NOW,
but yes those are fall yearling prices, I have to correct myself on the whites,I meant to put $150 a pair, not $250.
the split pairs are usually a split male correct and a normal hen, BUT hens can and are splits too. However for a split pair to do you any good at getting a white, silver, apricot or what ever, it has to be bred to one of them in solid color, split to split, should just give splits.
White throats are a color mutation.
As for hatching eggs, unless you a very skilled waterfowl hatcher, use broody bantams, this keeps the mandarin hen laying for you longer. Yes remove them the last week and finish in an incubator. The can climb like the devil so use an appropriate brooder for them, covered is best.
Most of these type birds, will never make pets, some will eat from your hand, but the picking up deal usually dont work to well with them. If you babied they from day one, you will be in much better shape but still no guarantees. They will settle down eventually as they get use to you and not be so flighty, it just takes time.

Aubrey