Mallard Ducklings for sale
Hatching February to November
Mallards are thought to be the most common duck on the planet. They provide lean, delicately-flavored meat, they are beautiful and the ancestor of most other duck breeds.
Production: Mallards are small, weighing 2-2.5 pounds at full maturity. A female will lay between 100-140 eggs per year. The eggs are a creamy to greenish-buff color, A clutch may consist of anywhere from 1 to 13 eggs.
Temperament: Mallards retain many of wild characteristics. While they are domesticated, they usually remain skittish and shy around humans. They are sociable animals and prefer the company of other Mallards, so it is best to raise them in at least pairs. It is also best to begin with ducklings so that they can become as accustomed to humans as possible. Mallards are dabblers, though they do occasionally make deeper dives.
Pairs are mostly monogamous, except males have been observed to actively pursue forced copulation outside of the pair. Sometimes several males will chase a single female. Like many other species of duck, paired Mallards have elaborate courtship displays. Nests are built in small scrapes and lined with straw and down from the female's breast. Females alone incubate the eggs and care for the young.
History: The only breed of duck that is not descended from the Mallard is the Muscovy. All other breeds count this small, common duck as their ancestor. As the oldest and most common breed, the Mallard has a long history of being domesticated, hunted and observed.
Today, it is the most commonly hunted duck in North America. There are Mallard habitats around the world, as well. Domesticated Mallards will breed with feral populations, and, in a few places, those matings have produced distinct sub-species.
Colors: The male Mallard, or drake, can be seen in just about any park with a pond in the United States. With its recognizable green head and white neck ring, the Mallard drake is beautiful and regal-looking.
The female is mottled all over, a dullish-brown color, with a black streak through the eye. Her face is paler than the rest of her body. Juveniles resemble the female.
Status: As the most common species of duck in the world the Mallard is rated as Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Body Type: Mallards are most comfortable on the water. Their legs are set far back on their bodies, making swimming easier but walking on land clumsier. They are strong fliers.
Weight: 2 - 2.5 pounds at full maturity
Classification: American Poultry Association Class: Bantam Duck
