A question about some ducks i found in a park today

[backyard pigeons]

Really? Are you sure they aren’t just being replaced with new abandoned ducks once they die?

No. They aren't. The same two muscovy ducks have been on a section of the river for three years now. They now have a flock of about ten. they are loving life.

I know cases vary, but people sure are quick to assume things and want to "rescue" ducks. Ducks are perfectly happy in a park with a pond where people feed them. They don't just die every 2 months, and someone replaced them. They are thriving. Ten times healthier than the inbred purebreds in a cage! I also went to a park with about 15 pekins ducks, 4 runner ducks, 2 Cayugas, and wild honkers.

Another pond, in Huntsville Alabama has about 60 ducks, tame and wild, all loving life where people feed them and they swim.

For real though. They don't need rescuing. A coyote can't swim and get them in the pond. A fox can't swim, A racoon can't, dogs aren't fast enough in water, etc. talk about happy healthy ducks! They need sizable bodies of water, and if I were a owner of ducks, I may make the wise choice and let them live the life they were made for! With a pond! So watch your local park pond. Those ducks are happier than yours in a fence, and they live long, healthy lives. they would say "give me liberty or give me death" if they talked. Thanks for reading. -backyard pigeons

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

No. They aren't. The same two muscovy ducks have been on a section of the river for three years now. They now have a flock of about ten. they are loving life.

I know cases vary, but people sure are quick to assume things and want to "rescue" ducks. Ducks are perfectly happy in a park with a pond where people feed them. They don't just die every 2 months, and someone replaced them. They are thriving. Ten times healthier than the inbred purebreds in a cage! I also went to a park with about 15 pekins ducks, 4 runner ducks, 2 Cayugas, and wild honkers.

Another pond, in Huntsville Alabama has about 60 ducks, tame and wild, all loving life where people feed them and they swim.

For real though. They don't need rescuing. A coyote can't swim and get them in the pond. A fox can't swim, A racoon can't, dogs aren't fast enough in water, etc. talk about happy healthy ducks! They need sizable bodies of water, and if I were a owner of ducks, I may make the wise choice and let them live the life they were made for! With a pond! So watch your local park pond. Those ducks are happier than yours in a fence, and they live long, healthy lives. they would say "give me liberty or give me death" if they talked. Thanks for reading. -backyard pigeons

I agree that there isn’t really a problem with keeping ducks on a pond as long as they’re provided with adequate food that isn’t just bread. But I’d think that many parks wouldn’t provide them with that. However, I could be wrong. I’ve never seen ducks being fed proper food at a pond, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
If they are safe from predators and don’t have a hard time over winter, again, then that sounds like a great life. But I’m sure that’s not always the case. There’s also the problem with domestic ducks (like pekins) breeding with wild mallards and messing up the gene pool.
Muscovy ducks are a bit different, since they’re feral in most cases, not dumped. So they’ve lived generations in the wild, not being taken care of by people, already.
Oh, and I don’t currently have ducks, though I used to. I have read some about dumped ducks and the challenges they face. It’s good that it seems there are parks that take care of their ducks.

 

[backyard pigeons]

I agree that there isn’t really a problem with keeping ducks on a pond as long as they’re provided with adequate food that isn’t just bread. But I’d think that many parks wouldn’t provide them with that. However, I could be wrong. I’ve never seen ducks being fed proper food at a pond, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
If they are safe from predators and don’t have a hard time over winter, again, then that sounds like a great life. But I’m sure that’s not always the case. There’s also the problem with domestic ducks (like pekins) breeding with wild mallards and messing up the gene pool.
Muscovy ducks are a bit different, since they’re feral in most cases, not dumped. So they’ve lived generations in the wild, not being taken care of by people, already.
Oh, and I don’t currently have ducks, though I used to. I have read some about dumped ducks and the challenges they face. It’s good that it seems there are parks that take care of their ducks.

Yeah, they don't always get fed the best, but I always feed them wheat and corn. They do have access to grass though, which is great for them. So health is no problem, as the ducks in the park ponds are some healthy birdies. Haha.

 

[backyard pigeons]

@RoostersAreAwesome I love your avy! my avy is a homing pigeon on a loft fly.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

@RoostersAreAwesome I love your avy! my avy is a homing pigeon on a loft fly.

Thanks, that’s Neet taking a bath. The only time he doesn’t look angry.
That’s a great photo. Did you use a camera to take it?

 

[Isaac 0]

Are all of the ducks going to suffer a death sentence because they're living out on the pond (?), no. Are all of the bird's healthy, with no problems, and have no risks of developing certain conditions, no.

The domestic ducks are a risk to the local population of wild ducks to the area, as they may interbreed with them, and create crosses, as well as take up their natural food resources. It will vary with the location, but a great majority of ducks on park ponds are fed unhealthy foods like bread, and corn, which often results in bacterial outbreaks, angel wing, wet feather, etc.

Most domestic ducks are unable to fly and are at greater risk of succumbing to predators. Especially, during winter, where food sources are limited, and if the pond is frozen, ducks are at greater risk of starvation.

With so many ducks, it's impractical to have someone come out there and catch all the birds. Prevent the problem in the first place, and educate folks that throwing domestic pet ducks out in the wild, is not a good idea.

In some locations, it is also illegal to dump domestic birds.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Thanks, that’s Neet taking a bath. The only time he doesn’t look angry.
That’s a great photo. Did you use a camera to take it?

I don't think so? I think my sister took it with her phone. Here's the group out for an exercise a week ago:

Are all of the bird's healthy, with no problems, and have no risks of developing certain conditions, no.

neither are domestic ducks in a coop. The park ducks in my area are healthier than any domestic ducks. Although, it varies by location.

It will vary with the location, but a great majority of ducks on park ponds are fed unhealthy foods like bread, and corn, which often results in bacterial outbreaks, angel wing, wet feather, etc.

those are the ducks treats. They will most of the time consume natural foods, like grass, moss, leaves, small insects, grass seed, etc. natural foods are better than a brown pellet out of a bag. I can't speak for every location, but park ducks in my area can't be compared to domestic ones in a cage; park ducks are healthier.

 

[Isaac 0]

"neither are domestic ducks in a coop. The park ducks in my area are healthier than any domestic ducks. Although, it varies by location.
those are the ducks treats. "

The term "domestic" is fairly broad, so let's narrow it down to farmed/hatchery-raised ducks, and pet ducks. I could agree with you that hatchery/farmed raised ducks are sometimes raised in poor conditions, but as pet ducks, for the most part, tend to be raised in fairly well conditions. There are exceptions, of course. From what I get you don't have ducks, and probably aren't familiar with what the average duck keepers setup looks like either.


"those are the ducks treats. will most of the time consume natural foods, like grass, moss, leaves, small insects, grass seed, etc. natural foods are better than a brown pellet out of a bag. I can't speak for every location, but park ducks in my area can't be compared to domestic ones in a cage; park ducks are healthier."

Sadly, while it may not be the case at your pond, the ducks at a good lot of park ponds are offered bread along with other unhealthy foods and they tend to choose that over, natural sources of food. Not to mention, the predator risk, starvation, and the effect they have on the wild duck gene pool, and their natural resources, it's just best to not have domestic ducks on park ponds, period. The point of my posts arent to argue, just to provide insight to people on why not to dump ducks at ponds.

Please give the links below a read:

https://ducksandclucks.com/blog/2020/01/13/dumped-domestic-ducks-highland-glen/
https://kutv.com/news/local/duck-dumping-what-it-is-and-why-it-might-be-a-problem-at-a-pond-near-you
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-02-01-1994032084-story.html
https://newcanaanite.com/its-a-deat...at-mead-park-one-appears-to-have-died-1446902
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/abandoned-pet-ducks-a-big-problem-on-li-1.3804935
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/nyregion/ducks-city-parks-.html
https://brooklynreporter.com/2019/08/wildlife-rescuers-raise-funds-for-ducks-dumped-in-city-parks/

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Tbh I would go over there and take my pick of some of the ducks to add to my flock

 

[noodledog]

Dumped domestic ducks are not living a better life than (most) ducks kept in a coop. A majority of people will feed them unhealthy foods (bread, corn, etc) and they will breed with wild ducks and mess up their gene pool. Domestic ducks can not take care of themselves. If a pond were to freeze and no one fed them, they would most likely die because they can't fly and they can't find food.

I can guarantee that my ducks, who have a predator proof coop and run, a creek to swim in, a healthy diet, and vet care if necessary are much healthier and happier than ducks that were dumped at a pond and will live a much shorter life. I know sometimes ducks are raised in poor conditions, such as at hatcheries or farms, but most pet ducks will be kept in decent conditions and are healthier than ducks that were dumped.