Free Range Mallards

[Tram]

I posted this in the FB group Mallards and have gotten no responses. Hopefully there is more people here doing something similar.

I’m in South Texas and have 8 Mallards I originally got from Metzler Farms last year. They were raised on a 21,000-gallon pond I built for emergency water use — now it's grown into a living ecosystem: minnows, frogs, cattails, snails, herons, the works. I also keep 2 Cayugas and 1 Khaki Campbell that round out the flock.
I’ve kept the Mallards completely uncaged and unclipped. They swim, forage, roost, and roam on their own terms. I’ve kept it as hands-off as possible to encourage natural behaviors.

Here’s the exciting part — one of those hens just hatched 10 ducklings about 3 weeks ago. They’re already doubling in size and following mom around the property. I didn’t incubate, I didn’t move the eggs — this was all her. It’s the first naturally raised clutch on this land, and I’m watching closely to see if they stay, migrate, or return in future seasons.
I’ve also spotted a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks on the pond last week and are doing flyovers this week and a Little Blue Heron that visits the pond most mornings unless I get too close.
So I’m wondering — anyone else doing a true free-range Mallard setup, letting them fly, breed, and nest without heavy confinement? Do yours migrate? Return? Settle in and stay? What worked (or didn’t)?
I’m keeping a field log and writing a bit about it, but I’d really like to hear what others have learned going the natural route. Appreciate any insight.

 

[cavemanrich]

The free range approach to serving these wonderful creatures is WONDERFUL.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[SusanDuck]

I posted this in the FB group Mallards and have gotten no responses. Hopefully there is more people here doing something similar.

I’m in South Texas and have 8 Mallards I originally got from Metzler Farms last year. They were raised on a 21,000-gallon pond I built for emergency water use — now it's grown into a living ecosystem: minnows, frogs, cattails, snails, herons, the works. I also keep 2 Cayugas and 1 Khaki Campbell that round out the flock.
I’ve kept the Mallards completely uncaged and unclipped. They swim, forage, roost, and roam on their own terms. I’ve kept it as hands-off as possible to encourage natural behaviors.

Here’s the exciting part — one of those hens just hatched 10 ducklings about 3 weeks ago. They’re already doubling in size and following mom around the property. I didn’t incubate, I didn’t move the eggs — this was all her. It’s the first naturally raised clutch on this land, and I’m watching closely to see if they stay, migrate, or return in future seasons.
I’ve also spotted a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks on the pond last week and are doing flyovers this week and a Little Blue Heron that visits the pond most mornings unless I get too close.
So I’m wondering — anyone else doing a true free-range Mallard setup, letting them fly, breed, and nest without heavy confinement? Do yours migrate? Return? Settle in and stay? What worked (or didn’t)?
I’m keeping a field log and writing a bit about it, but I’d really like to hear what others have learned going the natural route. Appreciate any insight.

I have an unusual situation near Portland, Oregon. We have a mallard duck nesting on the third floor of our apartment building.
She is sitting on 10 eggs. We have successfully relocated several clutches from the third floor to a nearby pond in the past four years.
Unfortunately, this Mallard has been injured. She is limping and having trouble getting in and out of the nest. She is missing many feathers from the back of her neck and maybe even her right wing.
We have partially enclosed the planter to protect her from predators. We are considering installing a “handicapped ramp“ so the duck can get in and out of the planter, which is 2 feet high.
She is very determined to sit on the nest, even staring down a crow who stopped nearby.

If the babies are hatched successfully in about three weeks, I would like to find someone with a backyard Pond, who would be willing to take them.
We have transported the clutches successfully from the third floor roof, taking them to a nearby pond, which has some issues, namely, very aggressive, male mallards who attack the female when she arrives with her babies.
The ideal situation would be someone with a backyard pond who would be willing to take this family.
Any any ideas how I can find someone like this?

 

[Tram]

@SusanDuck The best thing you could do is place her in an enclosed dog crate and mend her back to health. Dispose of the eggs and hopefully she can try again later. This past weekend, one of my mallard hens had been sitting on a nest and hatched out several ducklings. I found many dead around the nest and the two that were alive. I left alone, hoping she would take care of them. The next morning, they were dead. She hatched a total of 8 and all died within a couple days. The fire ants were tearing them up. Point is, Mallard moms are not always brilliant. From what you described, there is no way she can safely raise off spring in her condition and picking a third floor balcony for a nest is crazy.

 

[SusanDuck]

@SusanDuck The best thing you could do is place her in an enclosed dog crate and mend her back to health. Dispose of the eggs and hopefully she can try again later. This past weekend, one of my mallard hens had been sitting on a nest and hatched out several ducklings. I found many dead around the nest and the two that were alive. I left alone, hoping she would take care of them. The next morning, they were dead. She hatched a total of 8 and all died within a couple days. The fire ants were tearing them up. Point is, Mallard moms are not always brilliant. From what you described, there is no way she can safely raise off spring in her condition and picking a third floor balcony for a nest is crazy.

Thanks so much for your response. She has been sitting on the nest for over 24 hours without leaving to forage. She is very determined and I agree they are not very smart.
I’ve been wondering how to contain her so she can heal, but I’m afraid she’ll freak out if we cover the planter to protect her.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Not to be a downer; I am only trying to educate. I personally do not like the idea of free ranging domesticated, human-bred birds, especially those that can fly. Why? Because if they escape they will breed with the wild Mallards. Not only can they basically ruin the genetics of the wild population but they can also spread disease to wildlife and vice versa. My Muscovies are fenced in and their wings are clipped for this reason. WE are responsible for preventing the wildlife from going extinct.