Mandarins: will they come back or will they be gone forever?

[tiktilaok]

Hi there! Recently, i have been thinking of acquiring a pair (or more) of mandarin ducks.

Im still in the process of researching and reading stuff about them.
Considering them not being totally domesticated ducks, i learned that their initial response to anything that would startle or scare them would be FLIGHT, instead of FIGHT.

With that being said, i am wondering if they would still come back to their place/enclosure after flying away, or if they would prefer to wander off?

Im asking this since i have a few heads of 2 wild duck species (Anas luzonica and Dendrocygna arcuata) . All of them are neither wing clipped nor pinioned. Their place is also not netted. What i do is i temporarily place them in a smaller cage inside their enclosure for a month or so. After that, i let them loose.

Sometimes, a duck or 2 will occasionally fly away after being startled and they are nowhere to be found. But after a few hours or a few days, they'd be back.

Im curious to know if mandarins will behave the same way.

Thanks a lot in advance!


Just sharing a few photos....

 

[Canadian Wind]

Wow, that is gorgeous! Beautiful set up and beautiful ducks.

I'm not sure if they would or not, honestly. Perhaps clip their wings? I don't condone pinioning, or mutilation of any sort, so that would not be an option if it were me.

 

[OF65]

Turtles like baby ducks........

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you go here you’ll get more responses since this is where members hang out that have these species
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ornamental-fowl-swans-etc.46/

 

[tiktilaok]

Wow, that is gorgeous! Beautiful set up and beautiful ducks.

I'm not sure if they would or not, honestly. Perhaps clip their wings? I don't condone pinioning, or mutilation of any sort, so that would not be an option if it were me.

Thank you vm!

 

[tiktilaok]

Turtles like baby ducks........

Like? As in like to eat?
Havent hatched any yet. But in case, maybe il find them another spot wdo the turtles.

So far, i havent observed any turtle nipping or biting the ducks.. But with ducklings...... Thats another case.

Thanks...

 

[tiktilaok]

If you go here you’ll get more responses since this is where members hang out that have these species
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ornamental-fowl-swans-etc.46/

Thanks, maam!

 

[ruthhope]

Your set up is fabulous and your philosophy of not clipping wings resonates with me. I cant answer your question

Are they snapping turtles? As far as I know it is only snapping turtles that are a danger to ducks. They can kill a little fluffy but we get lots of adult ducks needing care and treatment for bitten legs in wildlife rehab

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks, maam!

And I forgot to mention what beauties you have and their habitat is awesome.

 

[tiktilaok]

Your set up is fabulous and your philosophy of not clipping wings resonates with me. I cant answer your question

Are they snapping turtles? As far as I know it is only snapping turtles that are a danger to ducks. They can kill a little fluffy but we get lots of adult ducks needing care and treatment for bitten legs in wildlife rehab

Actually, i do clipping of wings too as the last resort.. Very seldom, i must say.
Or if i am not that confident enough that wont fly and wander off. We do what needs to be done.

But i clip feathers to a minimum just so that they could fly so high and eventually maintain being air borne..

I honestly avoid clipping as much as possible because i think i am making them lesser of a bird... Plus, no matter how neatly a clipping is done, i still dont like how they look...No pun intended.., Just my personal opinion..

And as for the turtles, they are box turtles and a few red eared sliders.