I have 2 female mallards that are flying daily to the lake. How frequent should we let them fly?

[Lin97588]

Hi all!

I have 2 female mallards (12 and 13 weeks old). One hatched and raised, and now a tame but strong duck and is the oldest. We got her a friend for company and this duck came from a farm around 7 weeks old. They have bonded quickly and have taken flights to our backyard lake almost every evening. They love to hang out in fishing boat when we are out there. The older duck seems to be teaching other duck the ways of the land and waits for her to leave the run before flying off. It’s quite sweet.

We live on top of a hill, so afterwards, we herd them up the hill and feed them dinner and treats in their run and coop.

Recently, they seem to want to stay out later and later. I’m worried that they will want to stay out overnight. The farm duck is very dependent on the other duck and gets very upset when she’s by herself or can’t see the other duck. She’s usually the one that comes in from the lake first and is ready for bed lol. The other duck isn’t very vocal, but we have confirmed it’s a girl by her quack. I don’t want to clip their wings, but I do care so much about them and their safety. We haven’t seen many mallard ducks, but they usually start visiting the lake in the fall and stay around and on the lake all winter. We live in Michigan.

Does anyone have any stories of flying female Mallards? Do they stay around? Should I consider adding to the flock? When would be a good time to let them out during the day? I’m so afraid to lose sight of them and don’t feel comfortable just letting them free range just yet until they get bigger and stronger.

Thanks in advance

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi!

Others who might have actual experience would be better advice-givers, but I've researched this same thing in the past and spoken to folks down at the feed mill who raise ducks as well as sell them.

We live with a creek down the hill. I've been told that mallards would go down there every day, swim a ways, climb back up the hill to eat/sleep, and go back down in the morning. They would go further down the stream each day and eventually one day they would not come back. Either a predator got them, or they got too far and didn't know how to get back.

I was told the only ducks that wouldn't swim away like that were Musgovies.

I may get those, but it would break my heart to get mallards and have them disappear one day.

 

[saysfaa]

.. They would go further down the stream each day and eventually one day they would not come back. ...

That is what ours did the one year we got ducklings. For several months after they stopped coming back, we saw them off and on. That was several decades ago when predator pressure was much lower.

Also, we didn't put them to bed - no calling them up to the buildings or otherwise getting them in. My friends have a big pond and often get ducks. Their ducks do not leave (except one wild mallard they rescued after a hawk got its mother). They put the dicks to bed every night, sometimes with great effort to get them back. That might be the difference. Or it might be because their pond is landlocked. There is no stream to follow away.