The Migratory/Ornamental Waterfowl INFO Thread

[KansasKid]

Tell you what, i don't know if its genetically possible or not, and if i don't get 'em separated we're bound to find out if a mandarin and ringed teal can cross. That dang Dominant drake of mine wants to take over everything! and the more or less no dominant drake (i mean even the teal will push him around) doesn't even care that much, i know i worry a lot but theres still a voice in the back of my head that keeps trying to tell me something might be wrong with him the way he acts.

 

[kangababy]

Quote:
Oh boy!! i am so not ready for this.. we have plenty of brooders but want to buidl more and have all the waterfowl in one are and turkeys/quails/chickens in the other!

then there is the catch/sale pen!! ok
boxes this week and then pens the next three or four weekends.. pray for good weather we can work in... cold is okay but no snow or rain.. can't really dig and concrete in that!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
nope, they cant cross, no worries there. But it will cause sterile eggs would be my main worry on him breeding other species. If he's not allowing to correct bird to breed her, then they just all be duds.


Fingers crossed for you Kanga, even once you get egg 1, you still will have around a month before you'll have any babies to deal with, so you have time

 

[kangababy]

Quote:
nope, they cant cross, no worries there. But it will cause sterile eggs would be my main worry on him breeding other species. If he's not allowing to correct bird to breed her, then they just all be duds.


Fingers crossed for you Kanga, even once you get egg 1, you still will have around a month before you'll have any babies to deal with, so you have time

Thanks!! It should all be complete by the end of March I think.... Luckily where we are putting the brood house is where our old duck pen is, so it already has the outside structure it just needs a little bit of work and building a 60x25 hatch pen after the big aviary this year is going to be a cake walk.. lol... and sicne it is goign right nest to the big pen it only needs three walls!! lol

I am ready for the babies!!!

Does anyone have any pictures of Wet Brooders?? We have the dry ones figured out but what a permant type wet brooder for the diver babies!

And one other question? is it too late to worm the adult breeders? I got the Intervecmin (spelling not so sure) powder in and wanted to worm them but have heard not to do it so close to them laying... No one has showed any signs of worms even the few I have lost in the past month.

How do you mix it? It is in a small bag and says ti mix bag with 5lbs of food for swine and other large animals but I am afriad that would be too much for the little guys.
Thanks

 

[destinduck]

Me personally would'nt worm right now. Also you said you havent had problems so it would be more of a preventive measure. If it makes you feel any better my first egg is always in March. Remember LOTS of cover even with lots of boxes. Good luck. Im going to post when the eggs begin here also.

 

[kangababy]

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Thanks! I will post pictures once we get eggs!!

i am also going to be starting a blog on this year's experience so when I decide where I am going to post that I will let everyone know..

Last year I can remember my Greenwing teal religious sat on her eggs for 45+ days before she gave up and my Apricot Wood Duck sat on hers for at least 60 days with no little ones. We only had 6 Mandarins, 6-7 Wood Ducks and 3 Ring teal hatch last year but they were all year old birds but they were in a small pen 16x24 that was totally covered.. So this year of course my collection of birds grew but they have this massive pen with lot of water and the net gives them real sunlight!! and they are all two years old now..

All grown up!! I am excited!!!

Boxes.. right now we have 30 wood duck style boxes and 7 ground boxes but this weekend we are build 40+ boxes and as soon as the nurseries get in the tall grasses I will be planting like a mad woman.. I have 30 or so planted in there now but they have died off for the winter and the ducks have ate them down a good bit! Which just keeps me from cutting them back..

My dad look at me funny every time I drag fallen tree limbs in there because the ducks won't get near them but the quail love them!

 

[destinduck]

You can pull those infertile eggs after 7-10 days (double clutching) and more times than not they will lay again (hopefully fertile second go round) I check and swap eggs but try to do it when the hens are not on their nest. It takes a little while for the ducks to get used to the branches but they will and they shouldnt get ate up.

I swear by lots of cover for lots of babies. You can barely walk around in my pens when its breeding time. The harder species like lots of cover right by the water.

 

[roocrazy]

this is ANOTHER question from roocrazy

can any body tell me about the mable teal i read some on mallard lanes farm but the more of the same info the surer youll be

 

[kangababy]

I know we all love our birds but sometimes they just die of natural causes or due to unforeseen events..

I know that some taxidermist will buy the deceased birds, but I really have no idea what they would be sold for...


I have started just putting them in my freezer until I figure this out..

Any thoughts or suggestions on it?

 

[destinduck]

Mostly the taxidermist want mature fully coloured male birds also with good feather. You can generally sell them at what you paid for or alot more.