Those mandarins...

[DuckyBoys]

Everytime I make a change to the aviary (i.e. sell ducks!) they look at me like I am about to cook them for dinner. They stop eating for days and they avoid me like the plague all the while looking at each other like "What happened to those other guys?"

Interestingly enough, they LOVE to have new additions to the pen, but taking them away seems to cause problems.

So, I have decided to set up my breeding pens now so they can have their "adjustment" time, does anyone else have this problem?

 

[cawooduck]

All i raise are wild type ducks, and they have a pen to themselves. I would not raise mandarins in the same enclosure as other tame type ducks, especially if you are in and out a lot catching the ducks you are going to sell. When i walk in to feed or clean the pond, they all go to the corner, but soon after they go back to "normal" with one eye on me all the time!!

When i go in with a net to catch the ducks i am selling, they freak out, if i go in with a net just to see what will happen without even approaching the ducks, they get really nervous. The nervousness does not carry over very long and they are back to normal when i exit the pen, as soon as that door locks they hop into the pond and resume things as normal.

Your mandarins are probably eating, just more at night maybe when you are not out there to see it.

Take care!!................jason

 

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
No actually, they were the only ones in the pen and they really didn't eat for 3 days. I had some call ducklings that will still in a brooder pen that I let loose and then I added some saxonies and they went back to normal, but they really don't like having ducks removed. Weird. And they are locked inside the barn when I do the catching, so they don't see it or get chased around accidentally. They see that net and they are in the barn ASAP, then I block the entrance so they can't see and the others can't get in.

I like having my ducks in the aviary together so that isn't going to change, and they seem to enjoy being part of a big group. I just wish they didn't get so moody when some of them get sold.
I have to sell a couple drakes so I think it is a good idea to do it now so they will get over their weirdness before fall.

They like the new calls and I might even put some dewlaps in there for the winter and breeding season. They have never been in the aviary by themselves and have always shared with LOTS of ducks, so I think thinning it out to just the 6 of them would really upset the balance.

Last winter there were 19 ducks in there!

And I go in and out everyday to change the water in the pools. They pretty much ignore me or walk to the other side. At night when it is time to feed they fly into the hay room and wait for me to come in and feed them. They sit there an watch me feed everyone else then they hop out and wait their turn. Gotta love those little guys! They have a lot of personality!

 

[L0rraine]

I have Runners, Magpies and mixed breeds (nine ducks currently). They are all desperate to be together. Anytime I separate or 're-home' anybody everyone gets stressed. If they can't be ALL together, no one will forage or do much else for that matter. And, yes, mine are happy to incorporate 'Newbies' almost immediately as well.

I'm trying to get two or more comfy pens set up on OPPOSITE sides of the property so that when it's breeding season I can separate them a bit better. Am wondering if they will be willing to make the trek to 'the otherside' to visit through the fencing if I set things up that way. I'm also trying to get a couple of long runs side-by-side so they can 'feel' like they are altogether while eating and swimming and resting.

My husband says I'm too wrapped up in duck soap operas. --

 

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
I have one side of the aviary that backs into the pasture where I keep the geese and chickens and if I separate the ducks out of the aviary and put them in the pasture they just walk the fence all day long looking for the door! Poor things. My ducks MUST be all together!

Last year was my first breeding year, so I learned my lesson with breeding pens, especially with the geese. They must be spearated into breeding pens early. So I am selling a few and only keeping those that fit the program over winter.

Tell your husband that this is what we like to call "Duck TV!"

My giant schnauzer will sit in front of the aviary and watch them for hours when we have ducklings in there. He LOVES ducklings!