ducks?!?

[kookykate328]

i want to hatch mallard ducks but i cant keep them in my house or yard. i have a lagoon in my backyard though and there are other ducks in it. if i hatched the ducks could i release them into the lagoon once they have grown their feathers and would they stay there learn how to fly and migrate. also im a little worried because there was a fox by my house.

 

[kookykate328]

anyone?

 

[Amiga]

Sounds like you don't have a good setup for ducks. Having wild ones to watch in the lagoon is nice. If you raise domestic mallards, you put them at a disadvantage if you then release them. They will not be prepared to take good care of themselves. The fox, or some other predator is likely to get to them, and if they have depended on you for food as they matured, they won't quickly adapt for fending for themselves.

I suggest you enjoy watching the ducks already nearby, and when you have a place, and the time, and the ability to raise domestic ducks, you do so then.

 

[FenDruadin]

I agree. Ducks raised in captivity do not have the skills to do well in the wild. Some will survive, but most won't. If you really want to raise and release, and have the time and energy for it, you could contact a wildlife rehabber in your area and see if you could help out part time. If you really love it, you could eventually become a rehabber yourself, which would give you an opportunity to be up close and personal with the young of wild animals on a regular basis while helping them.