The Migratory/Ornamental Waterfowl INFO Thread

[KansasKid]

Can anyone give me a link to a place that has leg bands that last more than a few months? those little spiral plastic ones don't last, and zip ties don't either.
Went out today and i kept looking for my dominant hen (pink leg band) and couldn't tell which one was which because neither of them had bands (i know i should be able to tell which one is which by looking at different features but i usually just rely on the band

) and sure enough on the slope of the edge of the pond i could see clear as a day (luckily just cleaned it out last night) little pieces of what use to be a pink leg band.

So, is there any that last longer than this, or is just going to have to be one of those deals where i have to change them once in a blue moon?


Also, getting ready for next weekend. Had a guy about a 2 hour drive a way send me a money order and he is going to come and get two of the new drakes.

 

[destinduck]

Yea every coupla years I have to put on new zip ties . The bigger ones last longer. Other than that the metal bands are the best and you can get them personalized .You.ll have to google . I think its called National Bird bands. Also had black bellied lay in a raised box. Although could be the white faced. I just have to catch the hen in there to be sure.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

http://www.nationalband.com/nbtpoult.htm

 

[thekid]

Quote:
then they are still paired.
groups would be like 2 males and 22 hens.
In some species like goldeneye, that can work, well not that extreme, 2-3 extra hens is fine. But in others, mix breeding or sterile eggs will be the result is all. You wont have fighting issues unless the male ratio is super high over the hens.
In groups like you are talking about is what we all refer to as community pens, everyone does that. With the exception of just a few species like shelducks, no one keeps them 1 pair to 1 pen (like pheasants)
That's one of the major pluses to keeping waterfowl, you can build one large pen and just fill it up with what you like and usually have little to no issues with fighting or mix breeding.
Pens not cages though. To be a cage is a off the ground wire box like show chickens are kept in. If this is you thought, pass on them, they will beat themselves to death in something like that, especially wood ducks, they are the flightyest of all the waterfowl.
You need at minimum a 10x10 to me for a pair of ducks, after that, add at least an additional 50 sqfeet or so per addition pair, which for 12 pair of wood ducks would equal out to a 600 sqft pen, or a 20x 30. Bare in mind, this is bare minimum, bigger is always better. The more room they have the more comfortable they will be. A constantly stressed bird will be super flighty, pase the fence all the time, and you'll never get an egg from them.

Hope that helps a bit

Thankyou and was just wanting them for their fertile so if im keeping a group like that could i keep a ratio of 1 : 6 or would they still have to be in pairs? Sorry for all the stupid questions

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

thekid
no not on wood ducks
they really need to be paired, some will do two hens if they dont next at the same time, but they form a pretty tight "mated pair" bond If you have a lot of extra hens, some wont be bred on them.
Some of the other species you can get by with 2-3 hens on, but for the most part, 1-1 or 1-2 ratio works best

 

[exoticduckluvr]

6 Mandies and 1 of something else out of nest today from first time breeder. Dang they all wanted to bleed when I pinioned them. Got another egg dumper grrrrrrrr. Duckling reminds me of the Brazilian Teal, pics later as I don't want to disturb them anymore today after herding them into the nursery area and pinioning. Mom is trying to call them out of the nursery. Need her to settle down and see she has all she needs in there for them. Saw the new Chiloe hen in a nest box so hopefully this will be my year for Chiloe ducklings ;-)

 

[exoticduckluvr]

here they are. The only ones the odd duckling could be from are the Brazilian or Chestnut-breasted Teal that could fly up to the Mandies box. I'm thinking Brazilian

 

[Dr. Todd]

Nope, it's a Chestnut Teal, looks nothing like a Brazilian Teal duckling.
Brazilian Teal Duckling

Chestnut Teal Duckling

Chestnut Teal are experts at getting into cavity boxes, Brazilian Teal aren't very likely to pull it off without a ramp.
DT

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

was just about to say the same thing. It is chestnut based off color alone, But yes I never once had a brazilian go to a box, they were all ground nesters, the chestnut arent, they are cavity nesters, so based off color of the duckling, and location of hatch it has to be a chestnut

 

[lovin my birds]

Hi I just got a pair of mated Mandarin ducks. Well my hen found a way out of the coop and she is able to fly.

My dog chased her off

. I am pretty sure i heard her this morning, and my neighbor said he saw a lone female duck on his pond today, but she got scared of by dogs. Does anyone know a good way of catching her. I have a little trap put together where it is in a cage and the male is on one side fully predator proof, and the other side is left open so she can get in. Will this work. Will he call for her? He has been making a weird noise all day but I have never had Mandarins before so I dont know. Please someone help me. I want to get her back as soon as possible. Tonight will be her second night on her own. Oh and the male does have protection from the weather in case it starts to rain.