Need advise !?!?!?

[The Farm]

Howdy friends!
I am looking at getting two pair of hooded merganser and two pair of Buffleheads too.
And I have heard they aren't the easiest ducks to raise is this true?
I need all the advise you'll can give me ponds, nest boxes, and what ever else I need to know about.
Please also put pictures of you birds, aviary's, and ponds.
All help is great!!!

 

[kacky]

They are not very easy at all to raise for most. First, they cannot tolerate dirty water so your pools will either have to be constantly flowing or cleaned every day. They will also need a deeper pool as they are divers so a kiddie pool will not do. They will need a special diet with higher protein than your other birds, as they are fish-eaters. Both species will nest in a wood duck style raised box. Male hoodies do not color out until their second year and this time along with when they molt seems to be a very vulnerable time for them as I have lost every male I have ever had during this time, but the females never have a problem. I do not have any experience with buffleheads besides when I stayed at Sylvan Heights for a week and learned a few things from Mike Lubbock, but I research a lot and they pretty much have the same needs as the hoodies. Neither species is very good for the beginner and I would not get two pairs of each at the same time. I would try a pair of mergansers first and see how they do instead of buying two pair of them which would be around $300 and two pair of buffleheads would be around $1000 and then having them all die. Let me know if you have anymore questions. Hopefully somebody else can give you a little more information than I did.

 

[The Farm]

Ok thanks for that advise. !!!

 

[kacky]

No problem!

 

[dylan duck man]

I personally don't have buffleheads right now , but I know that during breeding season buffleheads get very teratorial and each pair needs seperate pens during breeding season, and hoodies I do have and they are not teratorial and do great in mixed wild waterfowl aviarys.the only thing is that they do require lots of care because of them being divers ( sea ducks ) there diet mainly contains tiny fish,bugs,plants,and cruastations.i would not keep these birds with domesics .best of luck Dylan.

 

[tacklouis]

I saw my hooded merganser hen catch and eat a fully grown mice

 

[The Farm]

I personally don't have buffleheads right now , but I know that during breeding season buffleheads get very teratorial and each pair needs seperate pens during breeding season, and hoodies I do have and they are not teratorial and do great in mixed wild waterfowl aviarys.the only thing is that they do require lots of care because of them being divers ( sea ducks ) there diet mainly contains tiny fish,bugs,plants,and cruastations.i would not keep these birds with domesics .best of luck Dylan.

Thanks I have kinda voted the buffleheads out for now. And I have Calls, Mandarins, and Fly mallards. Do you'll think they would be fine with the mix?
I am all so looking into Brazilian teals do any of you'll have them would they be fine with my other ducks???

 

[dylan duck man]

I also raise Brazilian teal.I would not put the hoodies or Brazilian teal in with my mallerds or call ducks. They will constantly harrass the little hens, but the mandarins would be ok with the hoodies and teal.

 

[The Farm]

Ok thanks glad I asked and please don't feel bad about telling me I will need to learn more on these breeds and that helps.

 

[dylan duck man]

Your welcome i raise mor than 20 species of wild ducks also geese and swans and would love to help ,dylan