I plan to raise mallard ducks in southern wisconsin and is it ok to keep them in the winter?
Image by Kate’s Photo Diary
Whio, the blue duck Hymenolaimus
53 cm., males 900 g., females 750 g., blue-grey, dark chestnut spots breast, bill is a soft pale flesh colour and tipped with a soft membranous flap, eyes are bright yellow.
The blue duck is variously called the mountain duck, torrent duck or whistling duck and is not only unique to New Zealand but also unique among other waterfowl. It appears unrelated to any duck elsewhere in the world and many of its habits are peculiar to the species.
Whereas most ducks eat plant material, the blue duck feeds on the larvae and flying stages of aquatic insects such as caddis fly, stonefly and mayfly. In almost all ducks the male deserts the female and takes no part in raising the brood and may mate with a different duck each year but the male blue duck helps guard the ducklings and probably keeps the same mate. Most ducks have an iridescent patch, the speculum, in the center of each wing; the blue does not. Like many of New Zealand’s endemic birds, they are not good flyers. All these features suggest that the blue duck is a very ancient inhabitant of New Zealand.
www.nzbirds.com/birds/whio.html
Question by erik_stevens_1: I plan to raise mallard ducks in southern wisconsin and is it ok to keep them in the winter?
I have a shelter and everything but is is ok for them to be on snow sometimes?
What do you think? Answer below!
3 Responses to I plan to raise mallard ducks in southern wisconsin and is it ok to keep them in the winter?
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It won’t hurt them at all and it should also help in keeping down disease that is caused during times of heat
Corkey
August 22, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Its fine, are they going to be pets for ever, if so you need there tip of wings cut. If that doesnt happen if they see other ducks they will fly with them.
Ducks are the best dogs ever, you will have sooo much fun
beth
August 22, 2012 at 7:52 pm
You need to check with you State wildlife agency. Most States require permits to own or raise the wild variety of mallard ducks. Captive raised wild mallards have to be kept in a an escape proof enclosure. There are domestic strains of mallards that do not have to abide by those rules but the wild variety of mallard does. It is also most likely you will have to get a breeders permit as well. They can handle the winter weather with no problem.
ddstantlerstill
August 22, 2012 at 8:21 pm