AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

hi everyone.

i notice there is much talk of mandarins on the forum but no topic for discussing any of the other few wild exotic waterfowl that are available in this country.

RUDDY SHELDUCK - sadly i hear they are in numbers as low as fifty (or maybe its fifty pairs). does anyone have any more information? know of anyone keeping these wonderful ducks? what are their cost?

CAROLINA DUCKS - as far as i know, these rivals for the mandarin in beauty are even rarer than the ruddies. is it too late for them?

CANADA GEESE - these birds were introduced to NZ and occasional vagrants arrive on our shore (only to be promptly dispatched by DEH)
its a shame none of there genetics can be utilised as i hear this species is dying out. is this true?

EGYPTIAN GEESE - from what i know these animals are secure. does anyone know what they cost to buy? any information on their status?

MUTE SWAN - from what i know these guys are in serious trouble. but i have also read of a wild colony in WA. are they secure?

NZ PARADISE SHELDUCK - i know nothing of the status of this species in australia. any info would be greatly appreciated..

NZ SCAUP - same as above

currently i am not in a position to save any of these species personally, however i have a very, very keen interest in preserving what exotics are here. lack of genetics definitely plays a large role in many cases, but likewise i think you'd have to be a fool to entirely discount poor management and lack of co operation in contributing to the decline in the above animals.

hopefully things can be turned around. in the day of the internet its easier than ever to get in contact with other breeders and share knowledge from around the world. personally, i'm a firm believer in researching animals wild lifestyles and mimicking that to produce success. that too is now a whole lot easier thanks to the web.

the APF seems like the most active fowl community in australia - this is my attempt to start discussion here on the above mentioned species.

CAROLINA DUCKS ,,,yes they are a head turner!! but as yet i havent found any one with them in AUST.

EGYPTIAN GEESE ,,, i see them advertised now and then and my understanding is they are stable for the time being..

CANADA GEESE ,,, i know of two breeders of these and i'm currently searching/waiting to obtain a pair..

while i'm here,, what about Cape Barren geese! we have some,,but they are more readily avalible than the above.

RUDDY SHELDUCK-Not sure

CAROLINA DUCK-Dont think we have any here

CANADA GEESE-Have seen them advertised and herd of people keeping them.

EGYPTIAN GEESE-Havent seen any but have seen them advertsied and been told there around.

MUTE SWAN-I have been told about the flock in WA and they are around $2000 a pair also seen them about 8years ago

NZ PARADISE SHELDUCK-Not sure

NZ SCAUP-Are around, there are breeders i think about $200 a pair

Contact the Pheasant and Waterfowl Soceity of australia

We do have Carolinas in OZ

It would perhaps be more correct to say we have Carolina drakes in Australia....

do you have them??

I wish!!!-but would rather have the ducks also!

so no 1 in OZ has Carolina "ducks"

I would love to hold of Carolina ducks I have seen them in a holiday in the USA

So to would (almost) every other member on the forum, but as stated above unless we get new inports the species is likely to die out in OZ.