10 Baby Wood Ducks (1st thought they were Mallards)

[ThreeOfSeven]

My teal are captive bread they will never leave the aviary although I have no desire to make them flightless. I have permits to sell them and they are marked as such. I do have plans to expand it with time. Eventually I do want to get wood ducks also. Have yours made the high pitch call sound yet.

I love my wood ducks, and yours are beautiful, but I would really like some ducks that wiggle their tails and come running to me. LOL!

No, mine only do subtle chirps. Will I get a chance to hear the high pitch calls? They're 7 weeks old.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Took down the separation fence between the ducklings and my pullets. No problems. Everyone seems to be enjoying the extra elbow-room. Chicks are pretty much intimidated by the ducks, and I think they're big enough that I don't have to worry about them getting stuck in the "pond." Also helped DH build a ladder roost.

Ducklings have commandeered the space under the coop. Chicks are having a great time running around and being just generally crazy. A lot of wing flapping today, and heard some definite high-pitch calls from the ducklings.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I like it. Great ladder roost to.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

<VIDEO BELOW>

The babies are just about ready for release. Their wings are beautiful, and they're doing a little flying in the enclosure. A friend who is a wildlife photographer on the island and his photographer-buddy stopped by yesterday to see the ducklings. They told me that in early September, we can expect to see up to 20 Wood Ducks at a nearby pond. (They set up a duck blind every year in late-summer so they can watch them.) This is great news! I've been agonizing on the best way to release them, and decided that 2 factors would make the release perfect -- fresh water and other Wood Ducks. (For instance, if I released them from my house, how can I be sure that they will fly in the right direction to find our local, small fresh water source? ... It's an island, and there's salt water in all directions but one.)

So, the babies will be here for another week or so honing their small-space flying.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They sure are pretty. That's just what you needed to know and just at the right time. So hopefully take off and finding the pond will go according to plan and with that many wood ducks there they should just fit right in.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Let us know when take off day comes.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Let us know when take off day comes.

I will! Hopefully, I'll get good video.

BTW, wanted to ask you what they are doing in the above video. Tails are spread and wings lightly moving. I recently changed the water in their "pond," and they're in it right away, swimming and playing. (Tried to get a video of that, but they weren't in the mood to put on a show.) They were probably up on the ladder doing their post-swim preening. Are you familiar with this? Thanks!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

My ducks do this after bath. I really don’t know what it means unless it helps with preening

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Went over to the pond where I plan to release the Wood Ducks. Saw 3 possible Wood Ducks. Also, as DH and I were quietly walking towards the pond, we ended up about 10-feet away from a beautiful (and deadly) fox who was curled up against a tree. Its attention was 100% focused somewhere in front of him/her. The fox spooked and ran off. We walked around the pond and ended up in that area -- under an oak tree where acorns were plentiful. Adult Wood Ducks *LOVE* acorns. <sigh>

 

[Miss Lydia]

Going to be predators no matter where you release them. Just have to hope and pray they will make it.