Mary Allen
Wild ducks impressed with their colorful plumage. Numerous breeds are also kept in spacious aviaries by poultry lovers. Mandarin ducks or wood ducks are suitable for beginners.
Ducks are divided into five different groups in the «Guidelines for Keeping Ornamental Poultry». The glossy ducks and common ducks are among those that are particularly suitable for entry into duck bird keeping. Glossy ducks are found almost all over the world and have adapted to the conditions of their natural habitats.
Common to all glossy ducks is that they prefer slow-moving waters lined with trees. In nature, they feed on parts of plants, insects, or acorns. Commercial ready-made feed is suitable for aviary keeping. In addition, an intact turf is an advantage so that the ducks can find additional food there.
The colorful mandarin ducks and wood ducks from the glossy duck group are particularly suitable for getting started with duck bird husbandry. They reproduce successfully in smaller aviaries. When the animals incubate, they sit on the eggs for between 28 and 32 days until the chicks hatch. For incubating the offspring, they look for tree cavities or nesting boxes, which the owner must provide.
Particularly Beautiful Courtship Dresses
Mandarin ducks are native to East Asia, Russia, and Japan. But there have also been populations in Europe for decades, for example in southern England and Scotland. They are used to the local climatic conditions and can survive well here. The courtship dress of the mandarin drake is impressive and very colorful. It is particularly effective when the drakes are courting for future females. On the back, they then show two upright, cinnamon-brown sail feathers. Along with wood ducks, mandarin ducks are the most commonly kept ducks.
The wood duck comes from North America. On its home continent, it was severely decimated by the loss of habitats (clearing and draining of tree-covered swamps) in the 19th century. But at the same time releases into the wild could also be observed in Europe. The first offspring that hatched in the Berlin Zoo at the beginning of the 20th century were released into the wild. A population quickly developed in the surrounding park waters of Berlin. However, she went back in.
The courtship dress of the bride duck drake is also impressive. The head and extended neck feathers have a metallic sheen. The back and tail are glossy black-green throughout and the chest is chestnut brown with white dots. Incidentally, it is possible to keep Mandarin ducks and wood ducks with other species. For example, red-shouldered ducks are suitable as aviary partners.
The Breeders’ Association of Breeding Poultry Switzerland recommends a twelve square meter aviary with a pond area of at least four square meters and a water depth of 40 centimeters for each glossy duck “couple”. The aviary must be covered. Not only to protect the animals from possible enemies from the air, but also so that they cannot fly away. In particular, keepers are legally obliged to take all necessary precautions to ensure that such non-native species cannot escape into nature. Not to mention human releases.
When you start keeping ducks, it is advisable to consult the cantonal veterinary office. Depending on the breed and cantonal regulations, a holding permit may be required. The local conditions can also be found out from the cantonal small animal breeders. They are happy to advise beginners in duck bird keeping.
Ground Ducks
As for the group of ground ducks, which include the Bahamian duck and the widespread mallard, they feel at home in both larger and smaller enclosures. In the wild, they live on inland lakes, in water lagoons, or ponds. Incidentally, their name comes from the fact that they often dig, i.e. search for food at the bottom of shallow waters.
In contrast to the glossy ducks, green ducks do not nest in tree cavities, but in high reed beds, in dense bushes, or under washed-up rootstocks. Most of them are capable of breeding when they are two years old. For breeding grounds, they prefer proximity to water. The diet of the common duckling includes seeds and green parts of aquatic plants. In human care, a mixed feed is suitable, and some shrimp are also eaten with pleasure.
The Versicolor duck originated in South America. The top of the head is black-brown. As a splash of color, the wings show a blue-green to intensely violet shimmering wing mirror. The beak is straw yellow with bright light blue sides. Due to its South American origin and its natural range, which is far down on the Falkland Islands, but also in the Buenos Aires region in Argentina, it can be kept in winter without hesitation and without shelter. This also applies to most other species of duckling.
For the Versicolor duck, which is widespread in Swiss breeders, Breeding Poultry Switzerland recommends an aviary of 16 square meters and, as with the glossy ducks, a four-square meter pond. The needs of the individual species are described in detail in the book “Guidelines for Keeping Ornamental Poultry” by Breeding Poultry Switzerland (see book tip). The book is therefore an ideal reference work.