Can you free range mallards?

[houndit]

We have three young mallard ducklings. When we got them I thought that we would be able to free range them like our muscovys. They seem very skittish. I have this feeling that they are not going to go in at night when they can fly. They are free ranging right now, and have come back every night except once. I am afraid that when they start to truly fly they will not come back. Is this true? Next they are tiny. They have already taken off a little bit a couple times. My muscovys do not take off till they are about full grown. Is this true for mallards also? They are smaller than the call ducks I saw at the state fair. Are they going to get bigger? Since they are a wild duck will they only mate in pairs or will one male service several females?
Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[punky45]

i have heard that they will fly away if you dont clip a cetain feather on thier wing.

 

[priszilla]

I free range the ones here- no wing clipping either- and they were mamma raised.I herd them into a pen at night= feed seems to be the key. Feed them they won't leave

 

[Nessy]

Feed is no guarantee though,
clipping wings is 100%