Combining to 2 groups of ducks - Advice Needed Wild Mallards & Khaki Campbells

[ducklady1010]

The 2 wild mallard ducklings I raised this summer appear to be hanging around for the long haul. Which is wonderful BUT. I have a duck enclosure that is 20 x 10 with a garden shed off the side for night time housing. Fully fenced, top and sides. I had that enclosure divided roughly in half with as a short fence; the 2 mallards on one side and the 3 nine year old Khaki Campbell ducks on the other side. During the day now they all have access to a large pond area with grassy areas............50 x 100. Only a short fence prevents them from roaming the yard.

The 3 Khaki's are all girls long past egg producing age and in fact 2 have developed male tail curls and orange feet and feathering like boys. Those 2 ducks do some pretty good "fighting" between themselves, although neither has gotten hurt yet.

But, I want to let the wild mallards and the Khaki 's together in the nighttime house without that short fence separating them and hopefully getting them all to "bunk" together in the garden shed when the weather turns to winter here in Wisconsin.

I am worried that there could be serious fighting going on.........they do okay in the pond area with the Khaki's chasing the mallards half seriously but the mallards just paddle away. The mallards can fly now so are free to leave if they desire.

Any suggestions on how to accomplish this. I thought about putting one Khaki in a dog crate at night for several nights to separate the gang..........not sure if that is a good idea.

Any thought???

 

[slordaz]

Not sure, here you are not allowed to keep a wild animal, unless you are a certified rehab specialist treating and then working to reintroduce said animal or bird back into the wild

 

[ducklady1010]

Not sure, here you are not allowed to keep a wild animal, unless you are a certified rehab specialist treating and then working to reintroduce said animal or bird back into the wild

 

[ducklady1010]

You are correct. I am in violation of the letter of the law but hopefully not the spirit of law. I just want what is best for them and have no intentions on dumping them off somewhere. I hatched them from a ravished nest. I have undergone a lot of soul searching since then. Maybe they should have been left for food for the next predator but here they are beautiful and healthy and I have loved watching them grow. They do fly away and are sometimes gone for hours but then they return. In spring many wild mallards visit our pond.................so maybe they will find their own group then.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I bet they will, what sex are they? Maybe you can split your coop so they each have a side eventually they will probably be okay together but might give it a little time before closing them up together.

 

[ducklady1010]

I bet they will, what sex are they? Maybe you can split your coop so they each have a side eventually they will probably be okay together but might give it a little time before closing them up together.

There is one male mallard and one female. They do share this night time space separated by that short fence. I could just leave as is...I have a small home made "dog house" for covered shelter now for the mallards and I could give it a closable door for winter.
I just would like them to all have the largest area possible and the warmest area possible when needed.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well they must really like it there to be staying around. I bet in spring they will hook up with the wild Mallards in your pond. Keep us updated and really it's up to you what you do over winter. As long as they all have a secure place and shelter. Ducks are hardy.

 

[slordaz]

You are correct. I am in violation of the letter of the law but hopefully not the spirit of law. I just want what is best for them and have no intentions on dumping them off somewhere. I hatched them from a ravished nest. I have undergone a lot of soul searching since then. Maybe they should have been left for food for the next predator but here they are beautiful and healthy and I have loved watching them grow. They do fly away and are sometimes gone for hours but then they return. In spring many wild mallards visit our pond.................so maybe they will find their own group then.

Maybe ya outta see about getting wildlife rehab certified, I personally think you'd be great at it

and technically they eggs were wild but would have been lost if it hadn't been for you as the parents were either killed or moved on leaving them

around here there are some that are but none with ponds that could do ducks ,geese etc

oh boy typos are bad already, time to make a coffee run

 

[chickens really]

It's illegal to house wild water fowl so you need to contact a wildlife rehab because the charges are in the thousands if you get caught..