Serving breeders of ducks for over 50 years!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Editors note: Raising ducks, geese, and swans is very popular in countries all over the world. There are dozens of species or breeds of ducks to choose from and many are easy to care for and breed. The best source of information on keeping and raising ducks is The Game Bird Gazette magazine. Each issue of the magazine has beautiful pictures and detailed articles by expert duck breeders telling you in detail how they do it. It's also where y
ou can find reliable and reputable breeders with ducks for sale. Geese and swans are listed in addition to the thousands of ducks for sale in each issue. Especially popular in the Gazette is our coverage of education and opportunities for young people in this wonderful field of raising ducks and gamebirds! Pictures on this page have all appeared in past issues of the Game Bird Gazette magazine. You can subscribe to the magazine and receive a big discount today at the secure and convenient online payment form or at the Gamebird.com Shopping Center.
Q. "I have been marvelling at the fantastic pictures of the Mandarin Duck and Wood Duck on the covers of the Game Bird Gazette magazine. This are such beautiful ducks! Are these ducks expensive an
d are they suitable for someone just getting started raising ducks? Also, where do I get feed for ducks?"
A. The Wood Duck and Mandarin are considered easy to keep and breed. A small fenced in area with a small pond will do nicely. Ducks for sale are listed in each issue of the Game Bird Gazette magazine from established and reliable duck breeding farms. You can keep and raise wood ducks and mandarins with just a small pon
d or pool of water. A high quality diet specially made for waterfowl can help ensure good health and breeding success in your ducks. Mazuri by Purina Mills, Inc. makes a diet specifically for waterfowl and seems to be the most popular feed among those raising ducks, geese and swans. You can find the nearest Mazuri dealer by phoning 800-227-8941. Or, visit their website www.mazuri.com. There are also other feeds available at local feed or farm supply stores. Waterfowl also enjoy eating mixed grains such as cracked corn and wheat and lettuce or other produce trimmings when available. There is an article on raising Mandarins in a small aviary in the upcoming edition of the Game Bird Gazette that will be published soon.--by D.H.
Q. As a wildlife biologist who may become involved in a research project where ducks would need to be c
aught and handled, can you tell me what the safest way is to hold a duck? I thought that people like you who are raising ducks would know best how to handle them.
A. This is an excellent question because how to properly hold waterfowl is very important yet seldom covered in the literature. You want to catch your ducks, geese, and swans with great care and, if a net is necessary, use a soft fish net that is sufficiently large to catch the bird or use help herd a bird or group of birds from one pen to another. A safe and effective way to hold a duck is shown in the photo at right. This is a young golden-eye duck and the picture on the left is a researcher holding a hottentot teal and two of its eggs. If the duck to be caught is in a pen or enclosure, catch it with a soft fish net or other means and then move the "v" between your thumb and index finger up under the wings and hold firmly at the base of the wings. Because wings are used for flight, they are generally quite strong and can easily support the weight of the bird. Never grab a duck by its legs as this can cause serious injury. 
Q. A teacher in Seattle, Washington writes: "During a recent classroom discussion, it was brought up by one of the students that there is a special name for baby swans. Can you tell us what this is? Also, we are exploring the possibility of raising baby ducks as a classroom project. What are baby ducks called?
A. Young swans are called cygnets in all countries, a name that is derived from the Latin cygnus (3 day old Blacknecked-swan cygne
t shown in picture at right). We were also recently asked by a reader in England what what to call a group of white Swans in his country. A wild flock is called a "herd," while a flock that is resident in an area is referred to as a "fleet." Mutes in a colony are a "swannery." And, incidentally, a person in England (particularly with Royal affiliation) who watches over swans is called a "swan herd." I doubt most private swan breeders consider themselves "Swan herds"!… ha, ha. There is some great information on raising mute swans in the next issue of the Game Bird Gazette magazine. As to your question on baby ducks, they are called ducklings in the early days after hatching.--by BL
Q. "I have just recently subscribed to your magazine and I am fascinated by all the 
different ducks and gamebirds that are available to keep and breed. The information and pictures are extremely informative. I plan to start raising ducks this year. Can you tell me how most breeders of ducks deliver what they raise to their customers?
A. Most people who are raising ducks, geese and swans ship them out using the United States Postal Service express mail service. This is a very convenient and reliable thransport service. Adult ducks, geese and swans are all accepted by the post office and may be shipped under the rules of the Domestic Mail Manual (3.3 Adult Fowl). Other types of birds that the post office specifically names as mailable include pheasants, quail, partridges, guineas, pigeons and doves. You can talk with your local post office about how it works.
Q. I heard that it takes a lot of space and water area to keep swans. What about this?
A. That is a subject on which you'll find lots of information in the next issue of the Gazette magazine. T
here is also an excellent book on keeping swans that you can purchase at the Gamebird.com Shopping Center that you can access from our main page. There are many swan breeders and zoos who do well keeping and breeding some of the swan species in smaller areas. This is especially the case with the smaller species like the Black Swans, Black-necked and Coscoroba swans. Of course, larger ponds such as in the picture at right are always nice! 
Q. Can you provide some information on permanently clipping ducks?
A. Yes, please see our page on pinioning ducks.
Raising Ducks Geese & Swans page 2