Breeding, Brooding, and Raising Ornamental Waterfowl at Swans Farm

At Swans Farm, we begin housing our birds in their designated aviaries with their mates by late fall. This gives them ample time to settle into their new environment and establish familiarity with their enclosure companions before the breeding season begins.

Nesting Setup and Box Design

By late winter, all nesting boxes are in place and ready for inspection by the birds. We follow a general rule of providing three nest boxes for every two nesting pairs in each enclosure. The nest boxes shown in the images on our website follow the standard wood duck design. For pinioned birds, we add a ramp to the entrance so they can easily access the boxes.

Ground Nesting Species

Many ground-nesting species prefer to nest under natural vegetation when available. In the absence of plant cover, a few well-placed cedar branches in a corner of the aviary can serve as suitable shelter. Ground nest boxes vary by species, but a cost-effective solution involves modifying plastic storage containers: simply cut an entrance hole to the appropriate size, add a layer of sand on the bottom, and then cover it with nesting material.

These modified plastic totes last for many years, especially when placed out of direct sunlight. Many of our birds use these just as readily as more expensive cedar boxes. One example is a Silver Bahama hen who created her nest in such a container—though she wasn’t pleased when we interrupted her for a photo!

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Brooding and Early Care

Newly hatched ducklings are placed in small brooders, some of which are basic large plastic bins. The floors are lined with newspaper and topped with paper towels to provide traction. Ducklings are supplied with a heat lamp, food, and water. To prevent them from getting wet and chilled, marbles are placed in the water containers—this keeps them from climbing in and soaking themselves.

For species that are slower to start feeding, we use shallow pans filled with marbles and floating food. This technique has proven effective in encouraging ducklings to begin eating. A wire cover over each brooder is important, especially for tree-nesting species, whose ducklings can climb surprisingly well—even on smooth plastic surfaces.

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Outdoor Brooding and Grow-Out Pens

At around one week of age, ducklings are moved to larger outdoor brooders. These have wire floors and access to shallow swimming areas. Heat lamps continue to be provided, with one side of each brooder enclosed and sheltered. Ducklings stay here for about two weeks.

Once they begin to feather out, they are transferred to small grow-out pens, each with a sand and gravel floor and a small concrete pond. These pens offer some shelter from rain and cold, as exposure to both can still be fatal at this stage.

When ducklings are fully feathered and reach adult size, they are moved into larger holding pens, also equipped with sand and gravel floors and concrete ponds. They remain here until they are shipped to their new homes in the fall.

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2025 Updates – Modern Brooding System

In 2021, we introduced a modern brooding system housed in a metal building with a concrete floor and multiple large floor drains. Each of our 16 brooders (in use from May to July) features:

• Individual pools with adjustable water levels

• Moveable plastic panels to control access to water or adjust brooder size

• Continuous fresh water circulation via overflow lines

• Two heat lamps per brooder, with customizable heating options

• Easy-clean designs: heat lamps are removable and plastic covers can hold in additional warmth

The entire setup is designed for cleanliness, flexibility, and optimal duckling health.

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Indoor and Outdoor Grow-Out Facilities

Adjacent to the brooding area are 10 indoor grow-out pens, each with:

• A heat lamp

• Its own concrete pond with continuous fresh water

• Slightly sloped concrete flooring for efficient cleaning

• Windows that open in summer and close in cooler months

Ducklings spend a few weeks here before being moved to outdoor grow-out pens. These are also essential during the shipping season, when they’re used to sort and temporarily house birds being prepared for transport.

All of our grow-out and holding pens are connected by hallways and gated transitions, allowing us to move birds without catching or handling them. This reduces stress and minimizes risk of injury. Once birds exit the brooders, they are typically not handled again until sexing and sorting in the fall.

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At Swans Farm, our focus is on maintaining the health, safety, and natural behavior of ornamental waterfowl at every stage of their development. From careful nesting setups to modernized brooders and thoughtfully designed pens, our practices aim to promote low-stress environments and long-term well-being for each bird.

Let us know if you’d like to schedule a tour or inquire about available stock for the season.