Domesticated Gray Mallard Duck

Mallard Ducks, sometimes known as “Gray Mallards”, “Greenhead” or “Flying Mallards”, are native to most countries of the Northern Hemisphere. They are widely raised primarily for hunting clubs, gourmet meat, decoration, pets and exhibition.

Physical Characteristics

• Size: Typically, these ducks weigh between 2 to 3 pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kg) and measure 20 to 26 inches (51 to 66 cm) in length. Coloration: Their plumage can vary widely, often displaying a mix of gray, brown, and white feathers.

• Bill and Legs: Usually orange or yellow, similar to wild mallards.

Domesticated Gray Mallard Duck

Behavior and Habitat

• Feeding Habits: As dabbling ducks, they feed on the surface of water or tip forward to forage underwater for aquatic plants, insects, and small fish.

• Habitat: They thrive in calm, shallow bodies of freshwater such as ponds, lakes, and marshes.

• Social Structure: These Domesticated Gray Mallard Duck are social creatures and are best kept in pairs or small groups.

Reproduction

• Nesting: Females build bowl-shaped nests on the ground, often hidden among tall grasses or vegetation. Eggs: A typical clutch consists of 9 to 13 eggs, which hatch after about 27 to 28 days of incubation.

• Ducklings: The young are precocial, meaning they can walk and swim shortly after hatching.