I see why you want the magellan's I just saw my first bunch today when i went to pick up my mandarin drake. They are really cool!
My mandarin hen that is laying eggs (7 total) has pulled feathers in the nest box now so i am hoping that she starts incubating them soon.
I don't know how long i should quarantine this new drake before i put him in there with the rest, i would like to get him in there fairly soon. I wormed him today, feathers are a little dry/drab and have perked up a bit since he's been in the swimming water but otherwise looks like a healthy bird. Been sharing the quarantine pen with the B pintails i got from mark thursday. The place i saw today made my jaw drop, i saw a lot of species in person today that the computer screen just does not do them justice.
yep, they are alot different in person arent they.
A month is the general rule of thumb on quarantining anything. Depending on how much you trust the breeder, like Marks I wouldnt be too worried with.
Worming was a good idea too if he was dry, means he's been off water and probably not treated too well, so good shot he may have had some.
Ok I am scared I have a problem...
This had me worried.. look at his chest feathers... Is that normal?
My Barrow's Goldeneye Drake.. he is the Camera Hog
But you can see his chest feathers look like that too.. I know I have read about it somewhere on here.. They are on frsh running water 24/7
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it's from over preening, all goldeneyes and bufflehead as well as most all the sea ducks can and will be bad about it, especially in the south.
It's nothing to worry about, just something they do.
Watch your birds close, they will constantly be preening at the breast area, and actually end up plucking it out like that, look at it's location, it's right where their bills will be at when they tilt their heads down to preen the breast. Some can be from fighting I guess, but all I have had that did it were just heavy preeners. It's very common in the seaduck divers, especially in the hottest months here.