Mallard issue

[AJH1544]

We bought ten duckings from tsc last march. We weree aware that it would be possible to get mallards or mallard mixes, tho i was hoping for rouens.

It seems we have mallards. Yesterday they each began flying out of their ten foot high kennel and all around my yard. I will also add here that they have stayed relatively small and very lightweight, thus adding to my mallard suspicion.

They do not have a back toe removed, so is it still legal to have these? If not, why can tsc sell them??

Also, if they are illegal, should i just discreetly cull them all and cut my losses? We were going to cull the males anyway in the next week. We wanted ducks to eat bugs in the yard and to enjoy their company, but not at the expense of a legal fine and whatnot.

Thank you for your advice, in advance. I have googled many things regarding our ducks and chickens, and this forum pops up all the time with great information.

 

[Amiga]

Mercy.

Do you have a receipt from TSC? Perhaps there was another method of identification used. Contact them.

People with domestic mallards generally clip their wings if they want them to stick around.

It just doesn't make sense to me to kill them all.

 

[AJH1544]

Thank you.

No reciept left from the transaction. Hubby usually keeps that stuff for the farm accounts but since we bought them off the account, he didnt keep it. What other ways could they be identified as hatchery?

I dont want to butcher them, dont get me wrong. But i also dont want any legal trouble.

 

[Amiga]

I can understand wanting to avoid trouble, wasn't meaning to sound judgy.

If it was on the farm account, might TSC have a record in their files? Just hopin'

 

[AJH1544]

Its ok, i didnt think you sounded judgy.

We bought them off the farm account, to my knowledge, so no real computer trail available.

 

[Amiga]

See if you can get TSC to tell you about their i.d., then, something from them to back you up. Clearly you are not the only ones to buy ducks from them.

 

[AJH1544]

Thank you again.

I have emailed customer support seeking verification of marking hatchery mallards. Hoping i dont get the run-around now...

 

[Amiga]

You acted in good faith. Let's hope they honor that.

There is information on the Duck Forum about clipping wings, just do a search.

 

[Haunted55]

We bought ten duckings from tsc last march. We weree aware that it would be possible to get mallards or mallard mixes, tho i was hoping for rouens.

It seems we have mallards. Yesterday they each began flying out of their ten foot high kennel and all around my yard. I will also add here that they have stayed relatively small and very lightweight, thus adding to my mallard suspicion.

They do not have a back toe removed, so is it still legal to have these? If not, why can tsc sell them??

Also, if they are illegal, should i just discreetly cull them all and cut my losses? We were going to cull the males anyway in the next week. We wanted ducks to eat bugs in the yard and to enjoy their company, but not at the expense of a legal fine and whatnot.

Thank you for your advice, in advance. I have googled many things regarding our ducks and chickens, and this forum pops up all the time with great information.

I am at a loss here as to why you are worring about having Mallards. Is there something in your local codes that say you can't keep them? I too bought Mallards as well as Pekins from TS last March and mine also fly around in my yard when they are let out to range. I have never clipped their wings because I wanted them to have a fighting chance against a hawk attack. Normally they are in a fenced and covered yard if I can't be out with them and they will fly for short distances in there as well. I must be missing something here....

Its ok, i didnt think you sounded judgy.

We bought them off the farm account, to my knowledge, so no real computer trail available.

If you bought them at TS, know the date you bought them, etc., then yes there is a computer trail. Even if you paid cash, there will still be a record from point of sale. They have to keep good records of birds sold so it would be a matter of talking to the store manager or any of the other workers there who know you. They can help you track the information down. Again, unless you have been approached by police, game wardens, or someone like that, I don't understand the concern.

 

[AJH1544]

Haunted, my limited understanding was that keeping mallards as pets is illegal unless you can prove they were hatched at a hatchery, usually denoted by removal of hind toes? I am new to this, so please bear with me, i am trying to learn but also cover my bases. I dont want any trouble.