Mallards

W Brown · **Posted:** Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:30 pm

Hi.

I have been interested in mallards for a while.Can anyone tell me what size enslosures they need for breeding? I am assuming the enclosure would contain either a pair or a trio.

Are there any special requirements that they need??

W Brown

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Our Mallard pens are approx 15 meters(L) x 7 meters(W) x 1.5 meters(H) all have ponds approx 3 meters (L) 3 meters (W) 900mm (D) we have 5 pairs in each pen.

For a trio a good sized pen would be 5 x 3 meters with a small pond.
you could get away with a small pen at a push!

Mallards don't require any special treatment but like all "penned" waterfowl they must have greens every day.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

W Brown · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:35 pm

I have been rereading my 'Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks' by Dave Holderread.

He mentions that it is possible to sex mallard ducklings (and other grey coloured breeds) by their plumage colour at around 5 to 8 weeks of age. The drakes will have a darker feathers on the crown of their head and will have less brown pencilling.

That's also about the age you can begin telling the difference in the voices of ducks and drakes, isn't it? And about the time that the bill of the drakes go dark green and the bill of the ducks starts to go brown?

Can anyone recommend a particular age it is best to buy mallards? - I was thinking that the younger the better to get them accustomed to people as soon as possible. There is nothing worse than a cage full of flighty ducks - and I have been told that mallards can be very shy and easily frightened.

Any advice would be most welcome,

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi W, it is possible to sex them around 8 - 10 weeks but we would not guarantee their sex until 12 - 16 weeks. We have had some youngsters that we thought were Drakes because of the darker head and neck area only to have them turn out Ducks. As far as voice differance at 5 to 8 weeks I'm not sure thats very accurate, we have had them for many years and would say they are much older before there is a call difference? We sell our Mallards from 12 weeks old, sex guaranteed, we have sold them at 8 weeks but this was "pick-up only" and not sexed. all our duckings have constant human contact and this is very important if they are Parent raised, but we would not say they are a "shy" species.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

W Brown · **Posted:** Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:25 pm

Thanks for the info.

I'll have to keep it in mind when I place an order for some mallards from you :lol:

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Will let you know when we have some available,

Thanks for the great Photos

Peacocks Australia :lol:

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi all, We have just put a new Article on "Mallards" on our Web Site located under Articles & Info / Waterfowl.

hope you find it interesting?

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

W Brown · **Posted:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:25 pm

Hi PA,

From your experience breeding mallards have you found you can leave multiple pairs of mallards in the same breeding pen through-out the breeding season?

Do you ever have to seperate the drakes to stop fighting amongst them selves?

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi, on the odd occation we have had to remove a Drake, but this has not happened offten, we have a few pairs in each pen, and have little problems throughout the breeding season. If you only had a couple of pairs in a pen and both Ducks were sitting then you might find the Drakes start harassing the sitting Ducks (excuse the punt) or they may start to fight each other?

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi all, hope your Waterfowl breeding season is going well? we have 18 Mallard ducklings at the moment, Normal, Pied, Fawn, with more due to hatch in a few days, with any luck we may catch up on our order bank?

Thanks
Peacocks Australia

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