MALLARD THREAD...not rouens, Mallards!

[NathanZee]

They do! Question if my mallards saw wild mallards flying would they try to join them? Because where I live in WI there are quite a few. I will post some more pictures later.

I have quite a few wild mallards around here too, and my drakes sometimes fly with them. But my ducks always lead the flock and they haven't ever left. When I'm around the wild ducks won't land in the yard, but I've seen them out there with wild ones ocassionally. About a month ago my drake Nyasa would fly with a wild drake that lived nearby, they got to be friends! Every day when Nyasa took off the drake would join him and they'd fly around for a while, but now the pond dried up where the drake lived so he moved on. It's actually really awesome to see your ducks up with a wild flock, although when the wild ducks outnumber my ducks I have been a little nervous!

Anyway, I'm sure they won't leave, although I would be a little more careful this fall not to let them fly with other mallards, the instinct to migrate could kick in. But this summer I don't think you'll have a problem!

 

[Spyderk117]

I have quite a few wild mallards around here too, and my drakes sometimes fly with them. But my ducks always lead the flock and they haven't ever left. When I'm around the wild ducks won't land in the yard, but I've seen them out there with wild ones ocassionally. About a month ago my drake Nyasa would fly with a wild drake that lived nearby, they got to be friends! Every day when Nyasa took off the drake would join him and they'd fly around for a while, but now the pond dried up where the drake lived so he moved on. It's actually really awesome to see your ducks up with a wild flock, although when the wild ducks outnumber my ducks I have been a little nervous! 

Anyway, I'm sure they won't leave, although I would be a little more careful this fall not to let them fly with other mallards, the instinct to migrate could kick in. But this summer I don't think you'll have a problem! 

Okay. Yeah it's really cool to see wild mallards flying around! How should I keep them from wild mallards this fall? Their pen doesn't have a net over it. I wonder if my mallards will attracted a flock of wild mallards! That would awesome. Thank you for the advice!

 

[buff goose guy]

I have quite a few wild mallards around here too, and my drakes sometimes fly with them. But my ducks always lead the flock and they haven't ever left. When I'm around the wild ducks won't land in the yard, but I've seen them out there with wild ones ocassionally. About a month ago my drake Nyasa would fly with a wild drake that lived nearby, they got to be friends! Every day when Nyasa took off the drake would join him and they'd fly around for a while, but now the pond dried up where the drake lived so he moved on. It's actually really awesome to see your ducks up with a wild flock, although when the wild ducks outnumber my ducks I have been a little nervous! 

Anyway, I'm sure they won't leave, although I would be a little more careful this fall not to let them fly with other mallards, the instinct to migrate could kick in. But this summer I don't think you'll have a problem! 

Okay. Yeah it's really cool to see wild mallards flying around! How should I keep them from wild mallards this fall? Their pen doesn't have a net over it. I wonder if my mallards will attracted a flock of wild mallards! That would awesome. Thank you for the advice!

I recommend aviaries,not only do they ensure correct breeding but it also gives room for them to fly , swim , and get plenty of excersize.

 

[NathanZee]

Okay. Yeah it's really cool to see wild mallards flying around! How should I keep them from wild mallards this fall? Their pen doesn't have a net over it. I wonder if my mallards will attracted a flock of wild mallards! That would awesome. Thank you for the advice!

Hmm, I don't know. My mallards are in a large netted over area so I can control when they fly, but I understand not everyone has the time and resources to cover their pen. One thing you could try, this is a little sad for your hen, but if you clipped her wings the drakes wouldn't leave her. The bad thing is that she wouldn't be able to fly for the whole rest of the year.

Maybe you could buy a heavier female duck that they would be attached to, so they wouldn't go far?

I recommend aviaries,not only do they ensure correct breeding but it also gives room for them to fly , swim , and get plenty of excersize.

You must have a huge aviary for ducks to fly in! How big is it?

 

[Spyderk117]

I recommend aviaries,not only do they ensure correct breeding but it also gives room for them to fly , swim , and get plenty of excersize.

I will have to look in to those! Do you have any good pictures of aviaries? Thank you.

 

[buff goose guy]

Okay. Yeah it's really cool to see wild mallards flying around! How should I keep them from wild mallards this fall? Their pen doesn't have a net over it. I wonder if my mallards will attracted a flock of wild mallards! That would awesome. Thank you for the advice!

Hmm, I don't know. My mallards are in a large netted over area so I can control when they fly, but I understand not everyone has the time and resources to cover their pen. One thing you could try, this is a little sad for your hen, but if you clipped her wings the drakes wouldn't leave her. The bad thing is that she wouldn't be able to fly for the whole rest of the year.   Maybe you could buy a heavier female duck that they would be attached to, so they wouldn't go far?

I recommend aviaries,not only do they ensure correct breeding but it also gives room for them to fly , swim , and get plenty of excersize.

You must have a huge aviary for ducks to fly in! How big is it?

We used to have 2 they were 150' by 80' and about 10 to 12 feet high

We had to take them down which was much more trouble than putting them up, becuase the netting began to tear and the wood was beginning to warp but they lasted a good 20 or so years , the biggest maintenance were the ponds

Now we just recently built a new aviary for call ducks and it is 50' by 80' and 6' high

The mallards now stay in the backyard or go out on the property during the day and back up at night ( which is why I clip their wings)

 

[Spyderk117]

Thank you for the advice!

 

[Spyderk117]

Hmm, I don't know. My mallards are in a large netted over area so I can control when they fly, but I understand not everyone has the time and resources to cover their pen. One thing you could try, this is a little sad for your hen, but if you clipped her wings the drakes wouldn't leave her. The bad thing is that she wouldn't be able to fly for the whole rest of the year.   Maybe you could buy a heavier female duck that they would be attached to, so they wouldn't go far?

You must have a huge aviary for ducks to fly in! How big is it?

Yeah I might need to do that. Would it matter what breed the female duck is?

 

[Spyderk117]

I forgot I have a female Pekin! I keep thinking she is a he. She is 4 weeks old.

Sorry.

 

[NathanZee]

We used to have 2 they were 150' by 80' and about 10 to 12 feet high

We had to take them down which was much more trouble than putting them up, becuase the netting began to tear and the wood was beginning to warp but they lasted a good 20 or so years , the biggest maintenance were the ponds

Now we just recently built a new aviary for call ducks and it is 50' by 80' and 6' high

The mallards now stay in the backyard or go out on the property during the day and back up at night ( which is why I clip their wings)

Would they circle in that? That is a lot to maintain!

Yeah I might need to do that. Would it matter what breed the female duck is?

I forgot I have a female Pekin! I keep thinking she is a he. She is 4 weeks old.

Sorry.

Oh wonderful! As soon as she is big enough (oh wait she is a pekin and they are mallards)

. As soon as she's ready it might be best if they lived together. Then when she and your mallards are older hopefully she will pair with one of them!