Need Wood Duck and Mandarin Experts' Advice

[Chicken0Boy]

I am wanting to build an avairy for those breeds.

I have heard they need special accomedations to house. Is this true or are they just like every other duck? Can you give me a list of everything I need in my avairy for those breeds? (like how much pond space, plants, trees, housing, avairy room, roost, nesting space, # of nesting boxes, and etc.) I am wanting 2 pairs of each breed. Will they wood duck mate with the mandarins, and visversa? If any of you pens for those breeds please post!
Thanks

 

[Chicken0Boy]

....bump

 

[Scott]

No, they are not like other ducks. Most of the ducks discussed on this forum are domesticated ducks... most of which derive from mallards. All these ducks are dabbling ducks and are ground nesters. Mandarins and Wood ducks, on the other hand, are wild migratory ducks. They are classified as perching ducks, and they are cavity nesters. Wild ducks, such as mandarins, must be kept in aviaries or pens. They are more flighty than domesticated ducks. Their housing needs are different, though they can eat the same feeds as domestic ducks. Also, they are seasonal layers unlike most domestic ducks.

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Okay can you give me all the info I need to know about housing & taking care of a wood duck?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

on top of what Scott said, I would use 6 boxes for 4 pairs to give them options.
You need the largest covered aviary you can afford to build.
trees, pampas grass, non poisonous plants, logs, stones, tree tops, anything you can put in there will make them more at ease and less flighty.
They are nothing like domestics, if you want them to eat out of your hand, forget it, these are for lookin at, not pets.
Lots of people dont realise that, they are a wild species and you cant get that out of them.

Ponds dont have to be massive for these as the are not divers, but again bigger is prefered and will cut down on so much cleaning.
Nest boxes for these on average need to be 18" tall x 12" wide, about 3/4 of the way up on the face cut an oval hole 4" wide 3" tall, this is perfect for both species. 1/4" hardware cloth on the inside face of the box is nice to aid them and any ducklings in getting out (though I always preferred to hatch my own)
These two species are genetically impossible to cross, so you are good there.
They love to perch, so anything arial you can put in there is a plus, especially around the nest boxes.
As treats, they and all wild species LOVE floating catfish feed. Other than that, any commercial maintenance and layer feed is fine, dont have to be anything special, mine always got Purina Gamebird Layer, and some corn in the winter for a little extra fat layer.
Aside from that, that's about it, let me know if you have any specific questions

 

[DMFarm]

Chickenoboy
Here is a nice pen in a previous post https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=329962 this is a nice set up for wood ducks and mandarin I would build something like this they need room to fly and exercise. These are wild ducks and they need a natural habitat and not in a wire cage build you pen as large as you can there no such thing as to large of a pen my duck pen is 25x80 with a large pond You can keep woodys and mandarin together they will not cross breed. They need a nest box to lay in. Here is a picture of my wood duck hen with babys in a nest box. I have another hen setting on eggs

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Boggy Bottom Bantams


Thanks for the info! What trees would you put in there and how ma, and do they need a coop?
What about thier chicks? I heard they need to be dropped. Is that true, also any requirments they need? (On all of these q's I am talking about Mandarins.)Would you want Madarin pairs or Wood Duck Pairs?

DMFarm

Can you show me a pic of your aviary? Would you want Madarin pairs or Wood Duck Pairs?

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Isn't a permit required to keep wood ducks since they're indigenous to the US? Or is that only in certain states?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
Yes a USDI Migratory Waterfowl Permit is needed, BUT only if you are selling them, no permit is required just to own them. A licensed breeder will give you a form from the sale from his permit, keep that copy, that is all you need to posses them

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Quote:
Yes a USDI Migratory Waterfowl Permit is needed, BUT only if you are selling them, no permit is required just to own them. A licensed breeder will give you a form from the sale from his permit, keep that copy, that is all you need to posses them

Ah... ok. I didn't realize that. And that goes for all states?