The Migratory/Ornamental Waterfowl INFO Thread

[kangababy]

ok It is SNOWING AGAIN! Yeah I am over it.. SO I am at the farm.. looking at the really cool framed pictures of Diver Duck Collection of wooden feather.. SO I have to look up the one I didn't have... 8 Feathers, 4 I have 2 on my wish list list and 1 I have never heard of...

Oldsquaw... Where can I get those?? I mean really.. Those are BEAUTIFUL!!!! I am sure way expensive but I want a pair.. Guess they will come when I have a pen for Harlequin and Eiders but can you get them?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

haha,
Now you're talking. Arnold Schouten sells them for about $1500 a pr if I remember right. There are several other northern breeders with them too now. Arnold and Glenn Howe and Paul Dye used to be the only people in the country with them, but due to their breeding sucess, they have spread them over the country now. They are still VERY specialised waterfowl and take a lot of money to maintain, but at least they arent $5 grand any more.
They are the only duck I know of that goes threw 3 distinct molts, breeding, summer, and fall plumage. They also are known to be the deepest recorded diver species out there, having been caught at depths of 600 feet if I remember right.
They are a seaduck of course and very similar in needs to all the others, but more demanding on plumage needs. Arnold told me of all the seaduck species out there, oldsqaws would be my hardest to keep, even over king eider and harlequins. Main thing is they must be kept on cool flowing water here in the south, anywhere really, otherwise they have problems with all the molts. Try eiders first and go from there.

 

[kangababy]

Quote:
wooh!!!! I'm just glad to know they are out there.. How cold of water?? Ours stays around 40

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

under 60 is good, just as long as it doesnt get heated up to 90 like most everything else here does

 

[KansasKid]

Today is both a sad day and a happy day. Its sad because i woke up this morning and that less dominant mandarin drake that was never quite right was dead.

but when i started freaking out about the whereabouts of one of my hens i found her in one of the nest boxes. Well i went out and checked a second ago now that shes out and THERES EGGS!!!!!!! i thought it was to cold and to early to lay but i guess not. This sunday i was planning on going to get a replacement drake for the other hen (one not setting) because the way my (alive) drake has been acting is like he's only servicing the one setting and running off the other. Do you think it would screw anything up by taking the other hen out and putting her with this other drake?

 

[MNwaterfowler]

KansasKid,
It should be ok to run the Mandarins are a trio. He will take a liking to the hen once the other hen starts to incubate her eggs. I run 1 drake to 2 hens with no problems.
Mike

 

[destinduck]

x2

just a sucky day for me, Had some of my sons friends over for dinner the other night and one negleted to tell anyone she had strep throat...I sat right by her . Going to doctors first thing in the morning. Say a prayer for me to get better. Young adults gotta love em.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

go ahead and get that other male, LOL
You know you're going to anyway

No I wouldnt move any of them now though, you can throw them all off,
but yes trioed does work as long as both arent needing the deed at the same time.

oh and see, I told you they can lay in Feb. especially down here

 

[KansasKid]

Quote:
haha, uh... ya mandarin drake for $20 thats in kanas that will add different bloodlines. He'll be in my quarantine pen (hopefully with my B. pintails from Mark) by the 19th. how do i go about getting the shunned hen with this new drake? or is it the kinda deal where this year both hens will have to get serviced by my current drake and he'll get his chance next spring?


P.s. i felt more than 1 egg in the box. And when i went out to check on them i didn't see her with the male so i assume shes in the box again so i'm hopeful she will decide to stay there.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

Quote:
Go get that lil guy he is a gem. I wish Darrel had given him to me but he gave me the older one. I think mine is two years old and the one yout getting is a year old dont quote me on that. Any how good luck my freind as i said he is a very honest guy. I thought when he got a way from others he would ask for more on his birds. ........... I was way wrong.