Duck

toc // Anas platyrhynchos // Order: Anseriformes

=**__Husbandry Information__**=

Diet Requirements

 * In the wild, mallard ducks eat insects, plants, worms, frogs, snails, and shellfish.
 * In captivity, ducks are fed waterfowl pellets and chopped lettuce.
 * Domestic ducks are dabbling ducks: they feed mainly on vegetable matter on the surface of the water, and they do not dive for food.

Veterinary Concerns

 * Ducks can be a reservoir for Avian Influence and some vets in zoos are not comfortable having them in the collection since they could draw wild ducks in if they are housed outside.

Notes on Enrichment & Training

 * Giving multiple substrates for the duck to walk on such as dry deck, mulch and straw gives the animal choice of where to spend time. Multiple substrates also helps prevent the development of bumble-foot.The mulch and straw can also encourage natural foraging.
 * Clicker training with meal worms as reinforcement works well to train a duck to go in and out of a travel crate.

=__Programmatic Information__=

Potential Messaging


=__Acquisition Information__=

=__Comments from the Rating System__=
 * Buffalo Zoo: We use call ducks.
 * Maryland Zoo in Baltimore: We are partial to Indian Runners.
 * Natural Science Center of Greensboro: We use runner ducks. Interesting body type, many colors, trainable to recall/follow.
 * Philadelphia Zoo: Tend to stress more when travelling; proper husbandry can be tougher because they need a pond and they are messy.
 * Seneca Park Zoo: Very good for educational messages, but can be difficult to care for depending on your housing set up. They need fresh water to swim in every day. Seems prone to bumblefoot if not given a variety of substrates.

=__Natural History Information__=

Range and Habitat
Domestic ducks can be found nearly worldwide. Most domestic ducks are derived from mallard ducks, which are native to the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe, and Asia. They can be found in freshwater or estuarine environments.

Physical Description
Size, coloration, and behavior vary widely between different breeds. Domestic ducks can be 4 to 12 pounds, depending on the breed. In general, males are heavier than females.

Life Cycle
Courtship behavior involves males swimming in the presence of females, shaking their heads and tails. The head-shaking display is often done with their breasts held clear of the water and with their necks outstretched. They may also raise their wingtips, heads, and tails briefly and then swim with their necks outstretched and held close to the water. Groups of four to five males may swim around a female, arching their necks, whistling, and then lowering their bills below the water surface and jerking their bills up to their breasts while spurting water towards the preferred female. Male ducks can be quite aggressive during mating. If a number of males mob one female, they could accidentally drown her during mating. Duck eggs hatch 28 days after they are laid. Ducklings inside the egg have an "egg tooth," a sharp point on the tip of the beak that the duckling uses to break through the eggshell. The egg tooth will fall off the beak after the duckling has finished hatching. Ducklings are able to fly within 5 to 8 weeks of age, and reach sexual maturity at 6 to 12 months old.

Behavior
Ducks are found in large social groups. They are strong fliers. Males make much more noise than females do, but females are the only ones that make the familiar "quack quack" sound. Males make a whistling noise instead.

Threats and Conservation Status
This is a domestic species, so it has no special conservation status. Common predators include birds of prey, foxes, dogs, cats, and people.

=__Did you know…__=
 * Male ducks are called "drakes" and females are "hens." Babies are "ducklings." Males have a drake feather: a curved feather on the tail.
 * Ducks are one of the few bird species that have a penis like appendage. Other birds that have penis-like appendages are geese, swans, and ratites.
 * The outer feathers are waterproof due to oil from a special gland that is spread around to all the feathers. Beneath the waterproof layer are fluffy and soft feathers that keep the duck warm.
 * The Muscovy duck is the only domestic duck breed that is not derived from mallards.

=__Photographs__=

=__Contributors and Citations__=
 * The Philadelphia Zoo