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  • Mandarin Ducks - any advice please?

    Not exactly chickens I know, but they're feathered and fowl so...

    I'm collecting a pair at the weekend, but from what I've read about them it sounds as though they're not like normal quacker ducks, and I'm belatedly wondering if I've done the wrong thing? (Bit late now to change my mind, but maybe I can at least prepare better for them!).

    I've read that even with wings clipped or pinioned (what exactly is pinioning, is it different from clipping?), they can fly over a 5ft fence. Oops. Also that they'll never become very friendly (so how do I train them to be herded inside at night?), and that they're very territorial (they'll have separate sleeping areas, but will share a large run with the chickens - is this likely to cause problems?).

    I'm planning on providing a large plastic box with holes in for door and ventilation, and a perch above the box for if they prefer to roost high up like the chickens - they're tree ducks, so assume they'll want to. What do I put on the floor of the secure pen where they'll sleep? It's a concrete base. And in the box, in case they want to use it? Wood shavings like the chickens?

    I've read they shouldn't get red mites - is this true?

    I've read both that you should and shouldn't feed them grains including wheat - which is correct?

    When Ms Duck is ready to lay eggs, do I need to put a nesting box high up for her, or will a low down one do? Again, I've read differing advice on this.

    Can we eat their eggs?

    Oh, so many more questions as the panic sets in - but if anyone can help with any of the above, I'd be very grateful!

    Thx.
    sigpicGardening in France rocks!

  • #2
    Not sure about mandarins specifically however - my ducks (Khaki Campbells and Runners) are fairly anti-social (we call them the ASBO's) and we just herd them in at night (or sometimes they go in of their own accord).

    They generally eschew the (ground level) nest boxes for patches of nettles/under hedges etc - the harder to get to, the better!

    I put straw in the duck house, they tend to lay in it, with a couple of errant chickens who think they're ducks. Generally though, my ducks tend to stay away from my chickens (or vice versa!)...

    Can't help with the flying thing though!

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    • #3
      Thanks for that, I'll stick some straw down then and see how we get on. I fully expect them to ignore everything I do to be accommodating - but at least it makes me feel better to have tried!
      sigpicGardening in France rocks!

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      • #4
        I don't think they will like the chickens much, our call ducks don't. Call ducks are the best comparision I can make I'm afraid - so keep one wing clipped and be very patient. No way do call ducks (for example) respond to herding into bed like runners, they are so irritating. Call ducks forage for own food- ours ignore pellets or corn, so.... Would love to see photos when you get them!!

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        • #5
          I'm not feeling confident about this at all! Lol . I'll certainly post photos, although they won't have pretty feathers when I first get them. How on earth do you get them to bed if they don't respond to herding?? Am I best keeping them in a fairly small area to start off with?
          sigpicGardening in France rocks!

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          • #6
            Now I'm just wondering ... why did you get mandarins, if they don't fit your "want" list? And why o why o why did you do the research AFTER you ordered them?
            All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
              Now I'm just wondering ... why did you get mandarins, if they don't fit your "want" list? And why o why o why did you do the research AFTER you ordered them?
              *Pulls covers over head *... Well... This is me we're talking about, right? The one who planted dozens of veggies into pots to transport to France because she couldn't wait to plant them in situ, and then had to leave half her 'stuff' in cupboards in the UK 'cos the trailer was too full ...

              To be honest, it never occurred to me that duck varieties would be so different! Chickens seem pretty much the same, with minor differences in attitudes towards being handled etc, so I assumed ducks wouldn't be any different... I guess the clue was in the word 'ornamental' wasn't it . But then I don't want them for eggs particularly, or for meat, just for fun because I love waddling quacking ducks, so 'ornamental' didn't seem to be a problem really... only apparently they don't even quack . Mind you, I can see this will present a perfect necessary opportunity to get a couple more later, just so's I can fulfil my lifelong dream of quackers in the garden *violins kick in *. And of course if I have a pretty male mandarin duck to admire for his looks, I'll be quite happy with female- only 'normal' ducks, so no risk of dozens of cuties I can't bear to part with... see, it's all worked out for the best in the end . The mandarins will probably escape anyway if they can get over a 5ft fence - our's is a metre high electric poultry netting (please note: poultry, not chicken). Can't see OH willing to erect 116m of 6ft fencing for 2 small ducks to be honest. *sigh *. And the moral of the story is? Nah, it'll never happen...
              sigpicGardening in France rocks!

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              • #8
                Oh Kathy, there's no help for you is there?

                Enjoy your pretty ducks

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                • #9
                  What does it matter Kathy? You'll enjoy looking at them and a bit of acting on impulse never hurts
                  Just wish that Mandarin Duck didn't sound like a dish from a Chinese restaurant

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                  • #10
                    Actually VC I'm a bit confused on that one - I read somewhere during my belated research that they don't taste very nice! But they're definitely on menus, so that can't be true. Not that I'll ever find out so it doesn't matter anyway. You're right, impulse is great fun . Normally I need weeks of advance notice before I do anything or invite anyone round, so impulse duck-buying was hugely exciting . Wonder how often I can get away with it before it stops being seen as 'impulse'...
                    sigpicGardening in France rocks!

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
                      What does it matter Kathy? ...a bit of acting on impulse never hurts
                      Maybe not in this case, and I'm sure Kathy will be a very good duck-mother, but dog shelters are overrun with impulse purchases
                      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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