Domesticated Runners with wild mallards...

[JessWolo]

Hi all! I am new to raising ducks, and have 4 female runners, they are about 15 weeks old. We have a large pond in our backyard where we let them free range. We have about 7-12 wild mallards that also enjoy our pond. They get along just fine. My runners like to follow the mallards everywhere they go in the pond. My fear is that the male mallards might try to fertilize them. Is this a reasonable worry? And if so... how should we handle this? Thanks in advance!

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Hi all! I am new to raising ducks, and have 4 female runners, they are about 15 weeks old. We have a large pond in our backyard where we let them free range. We have about 7-12 wild mallards that also enjoy our pond. They get along just fine. My runners like to follow the mallards everywhere they go in the pond. My fear is that the male mallards might try to fertilize them. Is this a reasonable worry? And if so... how should we handle this? Thanks in advance!

Are you planning on breeding your runners ? If not then what’s the problem ?

 

[thumper650]

I don't have female ducks but my understanding is that runners rarely collect a clutch of eggs, much less go broody.
I think they generally poop out eggs wherever they are. You could collect the eggs too, so they don't hatch.

 

[Jpat]

Hi all! I am new to raising ducks, and have 4 female runners, they are about 15 weeks old. We have a large pond in our backyard where we let them free range. We have about 7-12 wild mallards that also enjoy our pond. They get along just fine. My runners like to follow the mallards everywhere they go in the pond. My fear is that the male mallards might try to fertilize them. Is this a reasonable worry? And if so... how should we handle this? Thanks in advance!

Yes mallards will mate your runners

Wild mallards are sex driven in mating season

runner x mallard mixes are cute!

 

[LlamaGirl4]

In my experience mallards will mate with anything in sight. So yes they will mate with your runners. Once in Disney they had to catch a mallard and release it somewhere else Because it would try to mate with peoples legs!

 

[Jpat]

And thats where donald came from

 

[LlamaGirl4]

And thats where donald came from

Exactly! Lol

 

[JessWolo]

Are you planning on breeding your runners ? If not then what’s the problem ?

Are you planning on breeding your runners ? If not then what’s the problem ?

I am not trying to breed them.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

I am not trying to breed them.

What’s the problem with the mallard drakes fertilizing them then ?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

And thats where donald came from

They released that drake in NYC?