MALLARD THREAD...not rouens, Mallards!

[Tlearn98]

Thank you all for your insight. What I really want to stress here is that I live "in town" I have a lot of approx 130x130. My yard is actually much bigger than most in the town I live in. But I have neighbors on either side of me-a completely fenced in yard. So when I say I want to clip wings, it's because I can't risk them flying around into other peoples properties. Everyone seems to enjoy my ducks. I live in a great town, great community, but I do have one crazzzzzy neighbor that I fear...my ducks must stay put! But I don't want to continue to keep them in their enclosure. When I am home and can keep an eye on them, id like to give them freedom!

 

[Tlearn98]

The only predators I am aware of where I live, that could get into my yard, are random cats.

 

[Tlearn98]

Thank you so much!!

Clipping feathers is not a terrible thing to do, if you do it right.  It's just like giving them a hair cut.  We try to minimize the clipping, just because we like to watch them fly, and it allows them a bit more chance to escape a predator.  (We keep them in an enclosure at night, and only let them wander during the day while we're home.  Still, that hasn't stopped hawks from taking a dive at them, even when we are standing only 4ft away.).

For our two mallard drakes, we find that clipping the alpha is sufficient to keep both in the yard.  We start off clipping three flight feathers on one wing, and that's usually enough to keep the alpha from going more than half a dozen feet at a time.  Once we had to go for a fourth feather.  The beta then still has full flight, but he never leaves the alpha behind.  (And he's quite the precision little flier, even managing to fly up to me an land on my shoulders.)

As for winter housing, make sure it stays dry, has plenty of ventilation but no drafts, give them plenty of fresh straw on the inside (you will need to turn over the straw every couple of days, and change it once a week - they are poopy little creatures) and they should do quite well.  Once it goes below single digits F, we'll bring them in for the night.  (But I've certainly heard of people leaving them out in colder weather - ours will sleep outside, even though they always have their coop with straw, for anything above ~30 F.)  Heated buckets to keep their water unfrozen, and plenty of food to keep their metabolisms up and keep them warm.

Occasionally during the winter, we'll bring them in and let them swim in the bathtub.  Otherwise on the few nice warm, sunny winter days, we fill a tub for them and let them go swimming.  But they definitely get less water time in the winter months.

 

[revans2003]

Introducing the newest member of the mallard family.....................Pip Squeak!

Just ignore the Pekins in the background

 

[casportpony]

Very cute!

-Kathy

 

[leighia2222]

Desperately looking to buy an Adult Drake Mallard!!! ASAP!!! Here's my story...Just recently (one month ago) my family (husband, 9yr old son, 2yr old daughter, 2 dogs and I) moved from Texas to Louisiana. Our new home is nestled on 2.5 acres with lots of trees, and a stocked pond with 2 Mallard Drakes (previous owner said they just showed up one day and never left). My kids (maybe me more than them) have been so excstatic to have ducks as pets.

Long story short, one of our Mallards is missing. I've cried all morning!! Not wanting to see my kids upset, my husband and I are DESPERATELY searching for someone who has/or knows where we can purchase a Drake Mallard. Adult and/or babies, at this point, it doesn't matter. We just need a Drake ASAP!!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[buff goose guy]

Well if your just going to stick them out on the pond I don't think any caring seller would allow that

 

[casportpony]

Desperately looking to buy an Adult Drake Mallard!!! ASAP!!! Here's my story...Just recently (one month ago) my family (husband, 9yr old son, 2yr old daughter, 2 dogs and I) moved from Texas to Louisiana. Our new home is nestled on 2.5 acres with lots of trees, and a stocked pond with 2 Mallard Drakes (previous owner said they just showed up one day and never left). My kids (maybe me more than them) have been so excstatic to have ducks as pets.

Long story short, one of our Mallards is missing. I've cried all morning!! Not wanting to see my kids upset, my husband and I are DESPERATELY searching for someone who has/or knows where we can purchase a Drake Mallard. Adult and/or babies, at this point, it doesn't matter. We just need a Drake ASAP!!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

Welcome to BYC! Try calling Metzer Farms and ask them if they know of anyone. Goog luck!

-Kathy

 

[leighia2222]

Thank you Kathy...
Being first time owners of ducks, we are learning as we go.
As for needing one duck, we actually found someone locally who sold us 5...YAY!!! Never had to mention the loss of one to my kids, just surprised them with having more.
Now our adventure begins! We can't wait!!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

[NathanZee]

Thank you Kathy...
Being first time owners of ducks, we are learning as we go.
As for needing one duck, we actually found someone locally who sold us 5...YAY!!! Never had to mention the loss of one to my kids, just surprised them with having more.
Now our adventure begins! We can't wait!!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

That's great! Was it mallards that you got?