Mallards are native to most countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Scientists believe that all domestic ducks, except the Muscovy, are derived from the wild Mallard, or “Greenhead” as some call them. They are a small flying duck that is often hunted. Our Mallards retain this excellent flying ability. Mallards are calm ducks that are great entertainment, and organic pest control that are very hardy in all climates. Females will lay approximately 60-120 large white eggs per year. Fully grown, they will weigh between two to three pounds. They do an excellent job of hatching and raising one or two broods of ducklings a year. Mallards start to fly for short spurts at 10-12 weeks and fly very well by 16 weeks of age. True to their habit as migratory birds, these birds will fly away for winter but will often return to the same location in the spring. It is also at about 14-16 weeks that males get their beautiful coloring; before that, both the males and females are similarly colored in shades of brown.

Ducklings have black and yellow down feathers with a black streak of feathers by their eyes. They have black legs and feet. The top of their beaks are black, and the inside is pink. Important Note: All domestically hatched Mallard ducklings are required to be identified by US Fish and Wildlife. Our ducklings will have a back toe removed upon hatch to identify them as domestically hatched.