joza2210 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 hi all does anyone own any mandarin ducks here because i really want some information and pictures! thanks josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Hi I cant remember and may be wrong here but I am not sure if they are the type that will fly off?? I know I was told that the smaller coloured ducks do fly off? But not sure I may be getting mixed up here. Will have a look in my duck book. Am sure someone will be along that knows more about them. I think call ducks can be a bit the same???But it rings a bell indie just googled and Rspb web page Yes they are small and do fly off, as I remember for a couple of years we had one come to our pond it was quite timid , never came waddling down for food. Although they are pretty they are not what I call typical garden duck to keep, domesticated type. Depends what you want it for and it would be ashame to clip such a small ducks wing? I remember being put off these by duck keepers for the above I was told the would fly off and go up in the trees(mind you my domesticated ones use to disappear all day off to the fields)!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMWARDFARM Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Hello all I have 2 Mandarin ducks on order and one of my friends keeps then she has them contained in an area with shrubs (not a big area) with a 2'6'' picket fence, they could fly over if they wished but they dont. They are extremely shy birds and are part of the wood duck family, you can clip their wings as you would any other bird. The issue with them is they dont like going to bed in a duck house at night (prefer a tree) so make sure you put your shed against a fence or a wall as they will just keep running around in circles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMWARDFARM Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Mine are ordered from www.waterfowlonline.co.uk very knowledgable chap with about 30 breeding pairs in Southern Scotland, very reasonable price and is delivering them to Coventry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Mine are ordered from http://www.waterfowlonline.co.uk very knowledgable chap with about 30 breeding pairs in Southern Scotland, very reasonable price and is delivering them to Coventry! Tom would you get eggs from these and if I got some could I just leave them out on the pond or will they disappear..we are surrounded by woodland trees and a big lake?? Just quite like the idea but I do have tons of Mallards around as well?? But without all the looking after in housing etc or could I put a floating duck island?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMWARDFARM Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 You would get eggs they lay 3-5 approximatley per week very similar to call ducks they are quite small, off whiteish colour. The chap at waterfowlonline.co.uk could offer you the best advice, in my opinion they would head into the trees rather than stay on the island and spend their time on the pond. They are wood ducks and I would say their natural instinct would be to reside around them. What is interesting that of you get a breeding pair they tend to partner for life, much like swans. Also they won't / can't inter/cross breed with other fowl as the chromosones wont match, so you wont have any different coloured mallards popping up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Thanks very much for the information really helpful, I should really keep off this duck forum as the temptation is too great! Will look into this. We have lots of Ash and sycamore trees /Hawthorn hedging etc round the pond and it is open fields too. There are a couple of oaks nearby but not too many of them, if I dont have to do too much for them can provide pellets as I do feed the mallards young...cost me a fortune..I do like to see the ducks... cheers indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
