Ornamental ducks, which is best?

[fancyfowl4ever]

Hi, I just am putting the finishing touches on an aviary that will be housing a trio of Mandarins by next monday(hopefully).

Now looking at it and knowing how big Mandies are I am thinking of adding one more pair of Ornamental ducks, but I have trouble A) deciding what kind B) determining which is better in a mixed set up and C) costs and finding somewhere to get them.
Also preferably an easier species for a beginner too.

I have a little list of Species I like:

Blue Winged Teal(seen these at a breeder in German and really like them, but another breeder told me they are freaky/spooky little things)
Brazilian Teal
Falcated Teal
Ringed Teal
Black Bellied Whistling Duck

Any feedback on any of those species is greatly appreciated.

Anna

 

[destinduck]

bluewings are for the most part nervous,falcated and brazilian are exspensive and harder to find, I have my wood ducks (which are similar in habits as manderins) with my black-bellied and fulvous tree ducks and they are grumpy to them.so I would say the ringed teal . they are pretty easy to get ,cheap,pretty and make funny sounds easy bird to do and gets along with others

 

[Kramer Farms]

I would recommend the ring teal, also, for the same reasons as listed by Destin Duck.

When I get my new pens finished I hope to get a pair of ring teal to put with my mandarins and chiloe wigeons.

 

[1lpoock]

I have mandarins, wood ducks, and ringed teal. I reccomend geting ringed teal, they are just fun to watch.

 

[fancyfowl4ever]

Ok, Ring teal it is unless I can't find a breeder of those, then the brazilians will be choice #2(since I got a source for them but would like to go with something that is less then $150/pair).

Thanks everyone. I will post some pics of my pen once the plants I have put in start to green up a bit. Put in Raspberry, blackberry and purple raspberry plants but at this point it only looks like I buried sticks in random spots. Should look nice when its all green and less of a moon landscape.

Any suggestions on other shrubbery I can plant in there that does well in dry climates and will survive the winter without being hazardous to whatever birds I put in(our local nursery was stumped with that question).

Anna

 

[Matapatos]

I put a small pine tree in there that should grow to about 5' tall, they seem to like it and I've seen it in other's pens. I also have bunch grass that grows about 4 foot tall, tough as nails and very hardy. I have tons by my house so I transplanted some to my pen. Check mallardlanefarms.com They have tons of birds and are more than competetively priced. They ship only started birds so won't be shipping til this fall, but definitely worth the wait to get the birds you want. I'm getting 2 pairs of split/silver wood ducks from them this fall and I am so excited! Click this to see some pics of my pen if you would like... https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=320654&p=3

Good luck!
Travis

 

[fancyfowl4ever]

Quote:
Would love to order from that farm, i am amazed by their website, but I think I am maxed out with my budget and importing stock will have to wait another year or two I think.....

Would love a pair of those silver woodies! Maybe in 1 or 2 yrs they will be more affordable....

Anna