2 Campbells and a Domestic Mallard - flying?

[Just Ducky]

Hey All,

First, an introduction. We have 9 week old ducks.

We were supposed to get 3 Kahki Campbells but ended up with one Domestic Mallard. Ami(able) (the DM) is much more alert than the other two and is so much fun to watch than Capability Brown and Persi(tance) that we're fine with that. We seem to have lucked out and, as all 3 are quacking, we think we've got 3 females. They roam our yard and garden for a few hours each day when I am home.

They are in a 3' x 4' duck house at night and have access to a small concrete pond I built after my son dug a hole for me. The fence around their pond and yard is saplings woven in and out around 3/4" rebar posts and then poultry netting up to 3 feet.

Two out of the three have already lifted off the ground. Persi is the smallest one, who was stuck in her egg for almost 3 days until I gently moistened it and peeled her out of it. She lifted up about a foot then fell down on her face last week. Amiable also lifted up about that height a few days earlier. Nothing since.

Will these three fly? Will they fly higher than 3 ft? Will they stop flying once they start laying?

Thanks!

 

[Kevin565]

By Domestic mallard do you mean Rouen? If so those 3 most likely will not fly. If some of them do stay too light weight you can always clip wings.

 

[jdywntr]

Your mallard will be able to fly. Your KC may be able to but most likely without as much ability as the mallard. As long as they are confined at night and are not free ranging during the day over a very large area, I'd probably clip their wings. You only clip one and you can find good instructions on BYC.
Pretty much any duck can get some lift but for many it is just a few feet off of the ground if they are starting from a higher point or have good wind.
Before moving here, my dogs were barking out the front window so I told them to hush and looked outside. I was surprised to see my female muscovy (about 4 months old) out there trying to figure out how to get back. Muscovy do fly but she had not yet attempted but was able to get to the top of a 6' privacy fence and over the other side. She did this even with all of the other ducks with her. Her wings were clipped that day.

Oh, Kevin, I think they meant domestic vs wild mallard.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Khaki's can get lift when young, but as they mature they stay grounded for the most part. We have had ducks go over the field fencing when spooked only to not figure out how to get back on their own.

 

[Just Ducky]

Thanks for the welcomes everybody!

Our "domesticated mallard" is indeed a Rouen. Thank you Google Images.

It looks like a little feather trim will be in order. We'll wait and see.

Oh, and Capability's beak is looking greenish compared to Persi's beak. Both are Kahki Campbells. We could have a male after all.

Mercedes

 

[jdywntr]

Mallards and Rouens have virtually identical markings. Rouen are a large breed duck weighing ~8 lbs, mallards ~4 lbs. Are the 3 of them similar in size? A Rouen will be MUCH larger than a KC, a mallard about the same.

 

[Just Ducky]

Same size. Back to Domesticated Mallard. I'm not sure if Ami realizes how close she was to becoming a Rouen!

 

[downsm75]

I have a Muscovy (actually 2, my male is too heavy to fly or has no interest) that will jump up on ANYTHING and fly off. I found her in my neighbors yard and clipped 3 inches off one side (leaving the first three alone) you can't tell until she stretches them. I don't want any dogs getting her, she's my favorite.