Just Rescued a wild Mallard Duckling...would like info/advice etc.

[MROO]

Right, it is illegal to take a migratory bird from the wild. You are not allowed to disturb a nest or capture wild ducklings (or collect eggs) to keep or sell. The law is not intended to prevent rescue of predated babies that cannot survive on their own. If you are concerned, contact your local wildfowl authority and ask for their advice. If they tell you to raise your rescue, you are good to go. If they tell you to turn it in, then do it (and let them handle the cost of antibiotics) and get yourself a few mallard babies from a breeder. Mallards and Muscovies can coexist (sometimes a little TOO well) and they make for a very pretty flock.

 

[IvanK]

Right, it is illegal to take a migratory bird from the wild. You are not allowed to disturb a nest or capture wild ducklings (or collect eggs) to keep or sell. The law is not intended to prevent rescue of predated babies that cannot survive on their own. If you are concerned, contact your local wildfowl authority and ask for their advice. If they tell you to raise your rescue, you are good to go. If they tell you to turn it in, then do it (and let them handle the cost of antibiotics) and get yourself a few mallard babies from a breeder. Mallards and Muscovies can coexist (sometimes a little TOO well) and they make for a very pretty flock.

My thoughts exactly Thanks for taking the time.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Very cute! If you choose to keep him though please be cautious!

 

[MROO]

Definitely a little Mallard! I raised them for years, as a kid. They're absolutely beautiful, and have loads of personality. I actually had a bantam hen hatch out eight little mallards. It was one of the most entertaining experiences of my youth. I can still see Henny Penny herding her ducklings while they tried to follow in a line, and watching them learn how to scratch in the grass was priceless!

 

[ramboas93]

If you do keep it, id suggest clipping a toe or punching a hole in its webbed feet, that way it will appear as a domestic mallard and not wild mallard as that is required for all domestic mallards to tell them apart from wild ones, that way if fish and wildlife ever show up for some reason it will appear as domestic bred mallard, better safe than sorry. I know in oregon you can't keep wild mallards at all no matter the circumstances and must be turned into bird rehabilitation center. heads up tho i have/have had mallards and they have a tendency to fly off, i only got 1 drake now and he stays around during spring and summer and mates with my other ducks then flies off for fall and winter and then comes back next spring, 4 years so far and comes back every year.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

If this helps; my husband brought 4 intact eggs home last year from a nest destroyed by our haying equipment. Those eggs finished incubation with the guinea and chicken eggs. Four ducklings hatched and we raised them with the keets and chicks. The ducklings turned out to be Blue Winged Teal ducks. They were more reserved and we accommodated.

One evening the ducks flew out of the enclosure. They took up residence in the pond across from our barn until they left in the fall. We see ducks that look like them back at that pond. The other day one was crossing the road on her way to the pond...with a bunch of ducklings.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How awesome!!

 

[MROO]

If you do keep it, id suggest clipping a toe or punching a hole in its webbed feet, that way it will appear as a domestic mallard and not wild mallard as that is required for all domestic mallards to tell them apart from wild ones, that way if fish and wildlife ever show up for some reason it will appear as domestic bred mallard, better safe than sorry. I know in oregon you can't keep wild mallards at all no matter the circumstances and must be turned into bird rehabilitation center. heads up tho i have/have had mallards and they have a tendency to fly off, i only got 1 drake now and he stays around during spring and summer and mates with my other ducks then flies off for fall and winter and then comes back next spring, 4 years so far and comes back every year.

If you test and band your other ducks, then get the mallard done with them. At that point, many authorities consider it part of the flock. The bonus is that, if the duck flies off with its' wild cousins, the band won't hamper t at all. Wildfowl are banded all the time.

 

[IvanK]

Hi all...just thought I'd write an update to conclude since so many chimed in.
So I spoke to The Department of Natural Resources - Wildlife Rescue Branch and they deliberated for a few hours figuring out what to do. Eventually I was told that I have permission to raise the duckling on my farm since I am set up to take care of it and that it is basically already in it's natural habitat where we are situated...I also don't think they wanted to drive 3 hours to pick it up lol.
However, while my family has grown attached to the little guy and it would be a pleasure to raise him/her, we understand that we are not bigger than this...only part of it. We've concluded that it is probably best for the duckling to be with other mallards and therefore this Saturday we will visit the closest wildlife sanctuary with similar ducklings and let the little guy/gal learn how to be a mallard. He/she should have a very good life

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Hi all...just thought I'd write an update to conclude since so many chimed in.
So I spoke to The Department of Natural Resources - Wildlife Rescue Branch and they deliberated for a few hours figuring out what to do. Eventually I was told that I have permission to raise the duckling on my farm since I am set up to take care of it and that it is basically already in it's natural habitat where we are situated...I also don't think they wanted to drive 3 hours to pick it up lol.
However, while my family has grown attached to the little guy and it would be a pleasure to raise him/her, we understand that we are not bigger than this...only part of it. We've concluded that it is probably best for the duckling to be with other mallards and therefore this Saturday we will visit the closest wildlife sanctuary with similar ducklings and let the little guy/gal learn how to be a mallard. He/she should have a very good life

you are way more responsible than me!! I would have been way to selfish not to keep it!! Bless You!