Wood duck nest box photos & video

[1lpoock]

Also I noticed that none of your nest boxes have a perch on the outside. This is how mine currently are, will the hens be able to get in the hole alright? I'll try posting a pic in a second.

 

[1lpoock]

Ok here they are....the birds are fullwinged and I've noticed some droppings on the top of almost every box...may just be the teals though because they can fly good. Do you think the mandarin and wood hen will have any problems getting in these?

And an inside shot....

 

[deek248]

Giffy,
what type netting / wire are you using over the top of the aviary?
I will start construction on a 30' x 40' x 10' enclosure next week.

 

[giffy]

Quote:
Scott, I did...........really like the White Mandarins. I am limited on getting to view large photos or video at home, I live in the sticks with only dialup and it is super slow. When folks post large photo files or video I usually have to wait till I am at another computer.

giffy
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Not the video per say, but the question on nest boxes (my last post on that thread).

The photo below is of a Mandarin nest box that was setting in a raised pen, similar to what you are describing. The guy had all his birds in raised pens with a rubber pan of water in each. (all his birds were pinioned) The issue with a raised pen would be overcrowding and problems with newly hatched ducklings feet/legs getting hurt on the wire. (He would remove the ducklings once they hatched) The larger the pen, the more privacy and security the mother has. If there are too many ducks in one pen/aviary she is constantly trying to keep others away from her ducklings. It sounds like your idea of a separate pen would take care of this.

giffy
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[giffy]

Quote:
Yours look good, they shouldn't have a problem. I just roughed up the openings with a coarse file.

giffy
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[giffy]

Quote:
I used 1" pvc coated hex wire over the entire aviary. The size you are describing, you would want wire on the sides, flight net on top and maybe a hot wire running around the perimeter.

giffy
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[Mahonri]

How do those little ducklings climb that wire?

Are nests in the wild THAT deep from the entrance?

 

[giffy]

Quote:
The duck (hen) will choose a nest in the wild that she feels offers the best privacy and security. The ducklings are tremendous climbers and only leave the nest when she calls them too. In the original link in this thread there is video about half way down the page of the ducklings climbing out, it is quite interesting to watch.

http://www.giffsfarm.com/nestbox22008.html

giffy
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[ArizonaNessa]

Spider duck, Spider duck.....Goes where ever a Spider Duck goes......

Okay seriously I watched the little video three times. That was just amazing to watch them climb up that ladder. I had no clue they could climb or even that those ducks nest way up like that. Very interesting.

Nice website and beautiful birds

Edit: You know the way they climb reminds me of little children on the monkey bar thing at the school playground. One hand then the other.