MALLARD THREAD...not rouens, Mallards!

[christine9]

Hoping someone can help me separate fact from fiction. I was looking through my chicken catalogue to order chicks and saw mallards in there. The blurb says that these are wild birds that will migrate and likely come back in the spring. This is very appealing to me, but is it true? I'd love to raise a few and let them out to do there own thing. I'm not looking for eggs, I just have always loved mallards and would especially love seeing a few visit every year.

 

[austinbndr28]

Hoping someone can help me separate fact from fiction. I was looking through my chicken catalogue to order chicks and saw mallards in there. The blurb says that these are wild birds that will migrate and likely come back in the spring. This is very appealing to me, but is it true? I'd love to raise a few and let them out to do there own thing. I'm not looking for eggs, I just have always loved mallards and would especially love seeing a few visit every year.

I have had mallards for a couple years. I have let a lot of mallards fly away and only one duck ever came back but only for a couple minutes because she paired up with a wild drake not used to humans and got scared and flew off and she went with him. From now on i clip my birds wings so they stay.

 

[christine9]

I have had mallards for a couple years. I have let a lot of mallards fly away and only one duck ever came back but only for a couple minutes because she paired up with a wild drake not used to humans and got scared and flew off and she went with him. From now on i clip my birds wings so they stay.

Did you raise them from ducklings? Would that change the human fear factor?

 

[austinbndr28]

Did you raise them from ducklings? Would that change the human fear factor?

Yes hand raised friendly ducks. Its just natural for them to migrate they are not afraid only the wild ducks that come back with my duck i raised is afraid and the hen flew off with her mate.

 

[christine9]

Yes hand raised friendly ducks. Its just natural for them to migrate they are not afraid only the wild ducks that come back with my duck i raised is afraid and the hen flew off with her mate.

Interesting! Thanks for sharing your experiences. I might have to try it and see how it goes.

 

[austinbndr28]

This year I forgot to cut my ducks wings i bought from metzer farms and they flew away

 

[chickenboy190]

My Mallard never flew away. Never cliped her wings. She is now 6 years old.

 

[Fluffers]

FINALLY A MALLARD THREADMally

this is hopper



this is Mally

 

[Daniel-Sorensen]

 

[Anna6]

I just got Mallards or I believe two of them are and one is a mix, 2 drakes and one hen. When I clip them should I clip only one side or both sides? I have indoor birds and clip both but read some where that clipping one side is more effective, throws off their balance, and that they might fly even if both wings are clipped. I know that is the case with my indoor birds.