Duckling and Nest Boxe Information.
Here you will find a collection of nesting boxes I use for my wildfowl and call ducks along with pictures of call ducklings.
These boxes are readily used by my call ducks. They have an entrance hole leading into a chamber before entering into the nesting facilities.
The next boxes are adapted for hole nesters such as the Mandarins and Carolina Wood Ducks. They are accessed by climbing up a ladder onto a raised corridor into the nesting facilities.
In side all 3 of my call sheds are feeding and nesting facilites such as these adapted pigeon holes. They are a simple way of keeping nests serperate and preventing broodies from mixing their eggs of differing stages up.
I try to let as many mothers rear their young as possible at home. This is because I find the ducks do the best jobs. Nothing can immitate nature as well as nature. I also believe the ducklings that are raised by parent birds grow up to be better adapted to their environments and more settled. When I do incubate I use Brinsea machines.
The next few pictures are of my own Call ducklings and Black East Indians at various stages of development. The picture below shows 3 day old calls. They have access to drinking water from birth and access to duckling crumbs from 24 hours of age. From about a week onwards I introduce a Radio on a timer to the brooding ducklings. This provides them with stimulation and a reassuring tone through out the day.
This trio of Blue Bibbed Call ducklings are out enjoying the sun at 5 days of age. Under supervision. At this age they have strong maternal/paternal bonds and will readily follow anything that moves.
A nice pair of Dark Silver Call ducklings at a similar age to the above Blue Bibbed ducklings.
A Black East Indian mother demonstrating how it should be done! This duck raised 5 out of 6 ducklings to maturity. She even began to lay again whilst the ducklings were still downy.
