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....

 

[The Phantom]

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....

Beautiful Philippines!
Unfortunately I highly doubt the mandarins would hang around or ever come back. They are one of the flightiest ducks. If they were pinioned that would be best or if you netted the pen

 

[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

 

[ColtHandorf]

@MGG might be able to assist you. Or @The Phantom.

 

[raingarden]

I have always wanted mandarins but the price and logistics of getting them make it impossible. Even if we could get a permit for them. the permit would require that they remain confined forever. Your Luzons and Whistlers would be even more difficult to acquire. They are beautiful.

I think you already know what you have to do and the risks involved. They would have to be confined long enough to make sure they are completely dependent on you and your food, and are comfortable being there. Despite the warning to not let ducks get too fat for health reasons, I suspect a fat and happy duck is less likely to take flight. It's just too much trouble. If you let one from a pair out and it took off, it would be much more likely to return than if the pair took off together. Sounds scary to me and I wouldn't do it unless they were easy to replace. Maybe they are easy to replace there.

 

[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/

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks, maam!

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

 

[tiktilaok]

E.L.A.T.E.D!!!!

Thanks everyone for appeciating of what little i can do to somehow mimic their natural habitat

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

Love your garden, I hate clipping, and I let them fly except if they try to use the road in front of the house as a landing strip. (I agree it LOOKS like a great landing strip, even has lines, but the mad waving I do to stop cars from killing them is not me waving them in for an authorized landing!)

 

[raingarden]

Ducks are not very good at expressing gratitude for everything we do for them. So, it's nice when they choose to stay and are not forced to stay.