The Migratory/Ornamental Waterfowl INFO Thread

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
It depends state to state also, I have to get a permit to just own migratory fowl technically.

yep, Federally speaking, which is the main deal, Kansaskid if correct, but yes, a few states do require permits, even for chicken much less game birds and waterfowl, so be sure to check with your local government too, your state DNR or Animal Protection Agency should be able to help you there.
Federally, no you dont have to have a Sales and Disposal Permit to own them, but yes they do have to be properly marked, and yes you do have to have the Form 3-186 Transfer form showing you bought them from a licensed breeder.
Even if dead, and being given away though, you have to have the Federal Permit

 

[KansasKid]

Quick question, when ordering from a hatchery or breeder online how do you go about getting the 3-186 form signed by both parties?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Usually, they just sign and put their initials on your behalf. That, or unsigned papers are mailed to you to sign and mail back to the breeder.
I always just signed for them and initialed that I did so....

 

[kangababy]

Quote:
Thanks! I thought I just needed the federal if we would be selling which we will next year. I checked with my state (AL) and they said no because it all fell under the federal so I am good to go!
Hoepfully if all is planned right our ne aviary will be ready by October 9th! WE are pouring the concrete in the small pond.. Yeah it is like 2000+sqft of pond this weekend.. then digging the poles on Sept 18th and wiring/puttin the net on Oct 9th! Then I can have my new birds shipped in....More Ruddy Ducks, Bahama Pintails regular and silver, hooded mergansers, more NA Pintails, silver teal and silver wood ducks! i am excited though it is going to be a long morning pouring all of that concrete!

Does anyone know where I can get s few more pair of Silver Teal? I have been unable to find more than 1 pair and I would like to have at least 2.

Plants... what grows good in a pen.. Our total avairy is going to be 125ftx75ft or 9375sqft with 2500 of it being water so i have some ground to cover!

Thanks

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
Thanks! I thought I just needed the federal if we would be selling which we will next year. I checked with my state (AL) and they said no because it all fell under the federal so I am good to go!
Hoepfully if all is planned right our ne aviary will be ready by October 9th! WE are pouring the concrete in the small pond.. Yeah it is like 2000+sqft of pond this weekend.. then digging the poles on Sept 18th and wiring/puttin the net on Oct 9th! Then I can have my new birds shipped in....More Ruddy Ducks, Bahama Pintails regular and silver, hooded mergansers, more NA Pintails, silver teal and silver wood ducks! i am excited though it is going to be a long morning pouring all of that concrete!

Does anyone know where I can get s few more pair of Silver Teal? I have been unable to find more than 1 pair and I would like to have at least 2.

Plants... what grows good in a pen.. Our total avairy is going to be 125ftx75ft or 9375sqft with 2500 of it being water so i have some ground to cover!

Thanks

yep AL is like GA.
They let Federal handle all migratory birds, as they should, individual states should have no control over them in my opinion as they are Federally protected, not state.
But some have to but in, mainly mid western states, so it's always best to just check to be safe. In most cases, the Federal agency you apply threw will tell you right off if your states requires additional permits.

Your avaiary sounds like a nice one, a lot like mine were.
The ruddy ducks are tuff to keep, so be prepared to baby them, they really dont walk much so bigger ponds are great for them, they and the mergansers are also going to need the floating catfish feed to keep them live and healthy, not much, a small bowl a day thrown on the water will do.

As for cover, pampas grass is great. I also used river birch trees, black willows grow great around the ponds. Reeds do good too.
With any plants or grasses, you have to have them established before you put the ducks in, other wise they are just going to mow it down.
With no more than you have listed in that big of a pen, you should be able to grow grass though.
Pretty much with the plants, the tuffer, less tasty hard to eat ones will do, if they can eat it though, they are going to, so be sure it's not a toxic plant.

As for silver teal.I know loads of breeders with them, they average $200 pr PM me if you'd like a list of some of them.
Good luck and hey, post some pics when it's all done!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Hey, forgot to add, in addtion to what ever plants you can get to stay alive, dont forget to add logs, drift wood, large river rocks and stuff like that around the ponds. It really helps the looks of things. I actaully would get long peices and put them over the water on the smaller ponds for them to perch on over the water, they really liked that

I own a large 2300 acre hunting property on the rive here. It's easy to walk around the river and find stuff like that, and man it really dress's things up and looks natural!
Depending on your state, and access to property, just be sure it's all legal to collect stuff like that, some states a getting picky.
Also, I always made more less beaches around all my ponds for several reasons.
I'd put about a 4-6 inch thick layer of river sand (can be bought by the ton or truck load fairly cheap) around all the ponds 4-8 feet out from the edges of the water line.
What this does, is 1 it looks great
2) it REALLY cuts back on the nasty mud and stuff they track into the ponds, which will cut way back on cleaning intervals for you.
3) it keeps the area around the ponds much dryer and less nasty which also helps cut back on bacteria and disease
4) they love playing in it, and look good standing on pearly white sand.

 

[kangababy]

Ruddies have always been my favorite bird and I got my first pair maybe a month or so ago and they are doing well with my Mandarins, Wood Ducks, ring teal and greenwing but I am so ready to get them in their new pen! In totaly once all the birds are in we will have about 70 birds in the pen.. and then we can redo our current small pen and have that to use for the young birds next year or to keep some of the birds in!

Hopefully I will get some stuff planted this weekend so that it will have at least a month before some of the birds are released in there.. We will see how that goes. I may have to wait until we get the poles dug to plant some of it.. we have planted grass seed but the 100+ mallards and 200+ geese we have and the 40 or so black ducks on our pond next to the pen have eaten most of it we think! It is hard to keep those birds out of it since it is not wired and netted yet!

Thanks for the ideas on dressing it up! I have thought about that and I am trying to make it look as natural as possible. I am having some folks come out and give estimates to actually put in a about 20ft long running canal/water fall for them to dapple in.. but that might have to wait till next year!


I will try to post pictures either as we go along or once we are done!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
Sounds nice. Let me know if you need any more pointers

 

[KansasKid]

Went out to the pen to day to find a bald spot that freaked me out on the back of my mandarin drakes head. It resembles a bald spot on the back of a hens head if she is being over breed. I'm not sure if he is getting picked on by the other drake or if it's him molting out of eclipse. So far he has started getting the black/white chest/side feathers. I'll post pics in a bit. So does it sound like he is getting picked on or is it just a normal thing?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

hard to say, a pic would help, they will go down to just fuzz when molting, but it shouldnt be bare skin by no means