21 day mallard

[acriswell4]

I have one duckling 21 days old. When can I put it with other ducks? Right now it is really scared of other ducks. It sleeps inside, will he/she be ok when I do put her out when it gets older? It goes everywhere with me, if it flys off will it know how to servive?

 

[Pyxis]

Also to clear up something else really quickly, you can't just eyeball a domestic mallard duckling and tell it's domestic as opposed to a wild mallard. They are exactly the same, so showing it to the flock owner wouldn't really help. The only difference in those bought from hatcheries is that they are marked in such a way that if anyone was checking up on it they could tell it was domestic. If it was hatched by its mother and then given to OP I doubt this would have been done. So there would be no way to tell whether it was from a domestic mallard or a wild mallard by looking at it, but from the sounds of things it was produced from a domestic mallard on a farm and therefore is legal to keep. Just to clear things up a bit further.

Since there is an almost 100% chance it's a domestic mallard and since it was raised domestically, releasing it into the wild or giving it to a wildlife rehabber who will then release it is a bad idea. Ravynfallen and Miss Lydia have provided some excellent links you can check out and some great advice.

 

[ZuzuP123]

Hello! As a person with ducks and chickens, I do know that when you are getting ready to transition them to a different environment, and put them in with other animals, you should use a " chicken play pen " or in your case a " duck play pen. " Put you duck in a pen of some sort, and place the pen in the other animal's enviorment. Then none of the animals can hurt each other, but they start to get used to each other. When you think she's ready, let her out. I think you should wait a while though, she still seems kinda young to be placed with other animals. She needs to be able to defend herself.

 

[gal5150]

This is a tricky one, because *right* and *legal* may not be the same thing for this duckling. Would it have been good to turn it over to a rehab center on day 1 so it could've been integrated into a flock and actually know that it's a duck? Absolutely! Water under the bridge, that didn't happen. This duck is imprinted on humans. Would anyone on here advocate releasing an imprinted duck into the wild....no. Unfortunately, things aren't always black and white and this is no exception. Can the duck forage? Bc my two imprinted girls don't unless I provide the forage. They ignore natural forage growing from the ground completely, etc. I could not and would not ever release them, it would be a certain death sentence. They have no fear of humans, cats, dogs, etc. Mine are domestic ducks, but at the end of the day, an imprinted duck is an imprinted duck. Very tough call to make. Good luck!

 

[Ravynscroft]

I called a rehabilitation place that we have around here and they said they have a group of orphaned ducklings around mines age. I want to do the right thing by this duck, is it domesticated or wild I don't know for a fact, my friend said it is domestic, if it is domestic do they still have the migratory instinct? If it is domestic aNd I take it to the place will it survive in the wild? Will mine be able to forget about me and humans and be able to survive in the wild,


After reading up on wild mallards and having them I seen that if they are on your property but not caged and are free to come and go that you can't get in trouble. I'm not about braking the law.

Lots of confusion here... he bought the ducks so they are domestic whether they have gone feral or not is besides the issue... that duckling is now bonded to you... you said you thought you couldn't keep it, but is there any reason beyond thinking it was wild that you can't?


Sounds like you are trying very hard to do what is best for the duckling, and for that I commend you... living as a solitary duck is not ideal, but it can be happy if you have the ability to spend a lot of time with it... if you can find any ducklings close in age/size now, that would be ideal to give it a companion or 2... if not, come over and check out this thread for many helpful ideas and information...


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/632070/show-off-your-house-ducks

@Amiga can you post the links for basic duckling care? I need to copy those and save them on my phone, sorry...

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

 

[Ravynscroft]

Thank you, @Miss Lydia

And to you too, @Amiga

 

[Cherib603]

How old are your other ducks?

 

[acriswell4]

I don't have any other ducks

 

[gal5150]

Are you getting other ducks, planning to give it away, or planning to release it?

The likelihood of it surviving if released are VERY LOW. Between predators and just plain not knowing how to fend for itself.....not good. It sounds as though it has imprinted on you. How old was it when you got it?

More information would be helpful.....