2018: First breeding at San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Scott 2018)
Husbandry
General
Personality (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Shy
Calm
Shelter requirements
Large pond for swimming (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Vegetation for hiding (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Banks and in-water logs/branches for resting (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Soft loafing substrates to protect soft feet (Phoebe Vaughn, personal communication, 2018)
Helps with prevention of foot diseases (e.g., bumblefoot)
High vantage points to observe surroundings (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
In some geographic locations, a heated shelter may be needed, especially for gravid females during breeding (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Social interactions
Sociable (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Tend to group together (more so than similar ducks) (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Vocalize to defend feeding or roosting sites (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Often submissive to other bird species when kept in mixed groups
Diet and feeding
Adult diet (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Floating pellets (nutrition composition for waterfowl)
Small floating pellets (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Nutrition composition for young waterfowl
More protein than adult pellet
A dish of water can be provided to allow young ducks to create a “crumb mash” (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Behavior
Adult Freckled Ducks sometimes put dry food in water and mash it with bill (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Young can be “messy eaters” (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
May avoid water if their down becomes covered in food
Inquisitive with regard to potential food objects (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Breeding
Provision of natural nest materials or nest boxes
Natural nests (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Plant materials (e.g., native sedges)
Freckled Ducks weave a bowl around themselves, about 0.3 m (1 ft) from the ground [Slimbridge]
Nesting boxes (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Made of wood
Two chambers (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Lid opens to allow observation (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Males often help build the nest; some females prefer to construct their own nest (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Males may stay close to female during incubation or pursue other females (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Nest site is vigorously defended (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Other duck species (e.g., Black Headed Duck) may lay their eggs in a Freckled Duck’s nest (“egg dumping”) (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Slimbridge WWT breeding program (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Bred in groups—usually two males and four females
This gives both males a chance to sire offspring
Kept in same-sex groups during non-breeding season
Clutches laid year round
Up to four clutches per year
Reach maturity at about 2 years of age (Phoebe Vaughan, personal communication, 2018)
Influenced by the sex composition of their enclosure
Average clutch size
5-7 eggs
Incubation period
27-28 days
Maximum age of fertility
17 (or more) years of age
Enrichment and training
In addition to large pond, separate water tubs allow for splashing and play (Fatima Lujan, personal communication, 2018)
Freckled Duck observed to put lettuce in these water tubs
Possibly play behavior
Hatching Success
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park hatched its first Freckled Duck young in 2018, after the opening of its Walkabout Australia exhibit.
