Ornamental duck aviary

[Duckpond1245]

I've always wanted to get mandarin ducks or teals or some ornamental duck breed, but never got the chance to. I already own domestic ducks and other poultry but want to try something more advanced. I have room for a 22 foot by 10/11 foot aviary at the back of my shed. I would really like to make it as planted as possible with lots of vegetation. I know the ducks will eat some but hopefully not all the plants. Anyone that has had success with densely planted aviaries please show me how you did it.

I am thinking of a preformed pond that I refill every week. Would this work. I would surround it with gravel so it doesn't make mud. I will also add nesting boxes and plenty of roosting areas. I would love to have a filtered pond but believe it would cost too much. Unless you have a better option.

Finally would I be able to keep two pairs in this size aviary. Definitely a pair of regular mandarins, and if there's room maybe white mandarins or some other breed.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

I've always wanted to get mandarin ducks or teals or some ornamental duck breed, but never got the chance to. I already own domestic ducks and other poultry but want to try something more advanced.

Oooooh... this is going to be amazing : ornemental ducks are particularly BEAUTIFUL!

I would really like to make it as planted as possible with lots of vegetation. I know the ducks will eat some but hopefully not all the plants. Anyone that has had success with densely planted aviaries please show me how you did it.

Plants that my ducks don't destroy :
• Rosemary,
• Lavender (Lavendula),
• Sage (Common),
• Rose,
• Bamboo (choose among the Fargesia : they are not invasive),
• Palm (tree),
• Fruit schrubs (or fruit trees),
• Thyme,
• Mint.
...Among others...

Apart from rose bushes/schrubs - that I would NOT put in an entirely enclosed aviary -, these plants are good enough to procure shades to your ducks, and even keep them healthy : the ducks will indeed eat a bit of medicinal plants, but without destroying them! (I have actually seen mines do it, so...)

I am thinking of a preformed pond that I refill every week. Would this work. I would surround it with gravel so it doesn't make mud.

There is no reason it would not work...!

(And I don't think I need to tell you, but just in case : you need to think about a way for your ducks to get in the pond, but also OUT of the pond...)

You can surround it with gravel, but then choose them BIG enough so your ducks can NOT dig them out.

I personally use plasting grattings instead :

Or - not actually finished, but still doing the job :

...Plastic grattings are less work, you know...?

I would love to have a filtered pond but believe it would cost too much. Unless you have a better option.

Not sure you could do better than a preformed pond with "only" 20 or so square meters for an entire aviary...?

Finally would I be able to keep two pairs in this size aviary. Definitely a pair of regular mandarins, and if there's room maybe white mandarins or some other breed.

Do you want purebred ducks only?

Because if you only want ornemental ducks for them to be beautiful, you could want to look at this thread : Wood Duck Hybrids Pictures including Mallard x Wood Duck.

...Good luck with you project!

 

[Duckpond1245]

Plants that my ducks don't destroy :
• Rosemary,
• Lavender (Lavendula),
• Sage (Common),
• Rose,
• Bamboo (choose among the Fargesia : they are not invasive),
• Palm (tree),
• Fruit schrubs (or fruit trees),
• Thyme,
• Mint.
...Among others...

Thanks for the reply, there is lots of good information here. I will definitely look into some of these plants that you listed.

I think the plastic grating is a great idea for around the pond.

I have located a breeder near me that sells mandarins and some other breeds, so I'll think I'll just get a pair of mandarins and a pair of ringed teal.