Male Mallards

[fowl farm]

I have 2 males and 3 females. the biggest of the males was actively mating with the girls, but the other one has always been laid back and was leaving them alone and everyone got along great and the males weren't fighting. And then one day, when we were gone all day, the little male disappeared without a trace. They are approx. 14 weeks. What would be the likely hood of the small male flying off because he didn't think he had a chance with the girls? We live about a mile and a half from a lake, so he might have gone there.
Or, if it might have been a predator, what kind would it have been?

 

[duckmamma]

I'm thinking your ducks had no protection...just outside in the yard? The smaller male could have flown off or he could have been taken by a predator. If he flew off, then a predator could get him. Do you think you could check around, esp if there's a pond nearby, and get him back. Predators are more likely to eat the smaller, less aggressive ducks, and that would be tragic.

 

[RubberDuckee]

I have mallard hens.

Just based on observations (I'm not a scientist or an expert) I am fairly sure that ducks have a sense of where to find other ducks... This is solely based on the fact that I have had MULTIPLE wild mallard ducks visiting my yard over the past few weeks. My yard is covered by the tree tops, thus sight spotting is pretty much out of the question as my birds are basically the color of the environment.

Thus, I wonder if your submissive male was drawn away by the presence of other "wild" female mallards. If he "wasn't getting any" at home, then perhaps he sought some "lovin" elsewhere? lol

There is no scientific basis to my question answer, but I do think that this may be a possibility factor for his disappearance. He's a man, and we all know how "men get the urge." hehe

If your other ducks do not seem to be upset or affected by his absence then perhaps he did simply fly away. I have heard that mallards tend to do this.