The Migratory/Ornamental Waterfowl INFO Thread

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yep, I saw that, aint they pretty !

 

[toejam]

You guys are making it hard to start off slow with all these pictures.

I already know the 25x25 I'm planning on building won't last long lol.

 

[jsvand5]

Is it normal for a first year smew to be spending a few hours a day in a nest box? For the last few mornings when I have went out to feed one of my Smew have been in a nest box. She has not laid anything, but she has never went into a box before these last few days. She is housed with a first year male smew, a second year pair of hooded mergansers and a few Mandarins.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yes, it's just instick for them this time of year, but that's a GREAT sign too, she will most likely be a very production hen for you when the time comes

 

[jsvand5]

I think I got my first Merganser egg today. It's probably about the size of a large chicken egg.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
sure did, that's a hooded egg no doubt

 

[kangababy]

Quote:
sure did, that's a hooded egg no doubt

How can you tell? We are starting to get eggs and I have no idea what any of them are... all but 1 is in a raised box so take your pick!! I mean I only have 30 different species!

I know 1 is an Apricot Wood Duck hen because she is setting.. the others are still laying and one laid her eggs but after 8 eggs and a week she never sat on them so one of the chickens has them.. and to top it off I got my first 5 turkey eggs this weekend too!!!

I am going ot be over run with babies soon I hope!!

 

[KansasKid]

Question: Whats the longest period of time you have ever had eggs take to hatch? the reason i ask is because i pulled mandarin eggs this weekend for lockdown, saturday was the 28, sunday 29, monday 30, today makes 31 days and not external/internal pips but all (except 2) are still "alive" (knock on wood)

The two that stopped moving inside there shell, for some odd reason, died. both still had a good some of yoke left, so how much longer do you think it will take for these others to pip?

 

[waterdog]

Quote:
sure did, that's a hooded egg no doubt

How can you tell? We are starting to get eggs and I have no idea what any of them are... all but 1 is in a raised box so take your pick!! I mean I only have 30 different species!

I know 1 is an Apricot Wood Duck hen because she is setting.. the others are still laying and one laid her eggs but after 8 eggs and a week she never sat on them so one of the chickens has them.. and to top it off I got my first 5 turkey eggs this weekend too!!!

I am going ot be over run with babies soon I hope!!

Hoodies will be pure white and almost totaly round not egg shaped, Woodies and Mandies are egg shaped with the Woodies being whitish and Mandarins having a tan tint to them.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
How can you tell? We are starting to get eggs and I have no idea what any of them are... all but 1 is in a raised box so take your pick!! I mean I only have 30 different species!

I know 1 is an Apricot Wood Duck hen because she is setting.. the others are still laying and one laid her eggs but after 8 eggs and a week she never sat on them so one of the chickens has them.. and to top it off I got my first 5 turkey eggs this weekend too!!!

I am going ot be over run with babies soon I hope!!

Hoodies will be pure white and almost totaly round not egg shaped, Woodies and Mandies are egg shaped with the Woodies being whitish and Mandarins having a tan tint to them.

yep do it long enough and you can tell virtually all of them by species, some are a little tricky, but hooded are easy. Like waterdog said, see how white and golfball shaped they are. hooded all the way