Moved to an area with a duck pond

[TheDuckPond]

Good morning

I've recently moved to an area with a pond on the estate which is right in front of my house. When we originally moved we had roughly 25 ducks, for the last few weeks we had around 6 but now I feel like they're picking up again as we have anywhere between 10-15. There's some new ducks around and someone has said one of them is a Mandarin duck which is pretty smart.

Why would the numbers go down and then pick up again? Also, will they have ducklings do you think? We haven't seen any yet but people say they tend to breed every spring?

Thank you

 

[Icemaiden]

Good evening and welcome, DuckPond!

An interesting question, which I'm sure Dorset Duck Owner will be able to answer for you in the next few days...

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hi Duck Pond! Lucky you moving somewhere with a duck pond
I suspect that numbers are down because all the girls are all off on nests and only come out once or twice a day to feed and bathe.
I would suspect you should start seeing ducklings anytime now (we have had two broods appear over the weekend).
Its usual for only 2-3 to survive out of a brood of 12+, but this depeds on how many predators are about and if people are supplementary feeding the ducks.
Would love to hear updates on your duck pond!
Zo

 

[TheDuckPond]

Thanks for the response. So once they're born, hopefully they make their way to our pond. I want to help as many survive as possible, what should I be feeding them to give them a better chance of survival?

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hi! Best thing to put out for them is plain wheat, mixed bird seed mixed with unmedicated chick crumbs if you can get them, but to be honest they should have enough food and are better off not being fed as they will
Come to rely on it! I feed mine though ?

 

[TheDuckPond]

I'd love to say I wont feed them.. but I like the fact that they come back. I feed them most days along with everyone else on the estate too, so they probably do rely on it to be fair.

 

[dorsetduckowner]

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