Michigan

[chicken grandma]

That's good to hear. I'd really like to take a shot at raising some and if they would venture into the wild blue yonder, so much the better.
For the last few years, a pair of wild Mallards arrive in the spring and hang out in the neighbor's pool. They would come into my yard to feed from the wild bird feeders. Using Cheerios, I could draw the female to within about 5 feet before the drake would scold her. They stayed somewhere here in the neighborhood, but I never saw any ducklings.

I can get day old hatchlings or fertile eggs to incubate which makes it all legal. I'm thinking that I'll give it a shot.
So what is a good incubator to buy?

RaZ - I was told that domestic mallards cannot fly. So they would remain with you and not fly off with the wild ones. They absolutely LOVE water so our friends who had a pond had them but at the same time since they did not fly, they lost a lot of them to predators.

 

[M.sue]

Nice looking chickens there.....I love the color of Gravy.

 

[RaZ]

Ah RaZ, they are so purty! Maybe you could find a single bird later this year when it is warmer, then hook the two up...

Are you referring to Gravy? After losing Nugget to the hawk last month, Gravy seemed so lost. That's when the Uggos came into play. I thought the young chicks would become pals with her. But chicken behaviour, like chicken math is a complete unknown phenomenon. Gravy does hang with the Ugo's, but Pepper is more bold and approaches the big girls and leaves Lemon and Gravy behind. However, Lemon will follow but Gravy will not. I think flock pecking order is in play as the young Uggos grow, but I can't tell what is going on.

I'm a plant guy so poultry behaviour is still new to me. The ever changing flock dynamics are fascinating to observe. Every day is a new adventure. So much different from cats and dogs.

 

[RaZ]

RaZ - I was told that domestic mallards cannot fly. So they would remain with you and not fly off with the wild ones. They absolutely LOVE water so our friends who had a pond had them but at the same time since they did not fly, they lost a lot of them to predators. Can you find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area and ask to foster some wild mallards for him/her? If you call in April/May when they have like 250 ducklings - they will probably say 'yes' to the fostering. Then they would tell you how to care for them and when and where to release them so it remains under their control and supervision.

I wonder if I got some faulty information. I'm still gathering information before I jump into this venture.
My vet rehabilitates raptors so I can ask him and I have a friend who works for Fish and Game. I'm not about to go into this lightly, but if I can do something to help the local wildlife, I'd like to try.

 

[Olive Hill]

Domestic Mallards can fly. Ours did a few fly overs every day when we had them.

 

[yorkchick]

If you need help to haul the shed let me know. I have a truck and a flat-bed trailer and tons of tie-downs.

Hey, thanks, Raz, I will keep that in mind! My friend says the shed is already on her dad's flat bed trailer, it's just finding time to haul it. And of course he lives in the middle of nowhere. But I will do some more hinting. I'll let you know if I need to take you up on that very generous offer (and of course I'd pay for gas), I don't want to put anyone out... you know, more than necessary to get my shed. While I'm thinking about it, anyone (within reasonable distance of the Ann Arbor area) happen to have a couple old junk tires lying around? I know, I know, those should not be hard to find, right? I just haven't tried yet. Should post a request on Freecycle or Craigslist. I heard that they make pretty good goose nests--cut out a portion of the tire so they can walk in, fill the tire with straw, keeps the straw nice and confined and also the eggs. Thought I would give it a try.

 

[Olive Hill]

Hey, thanks, Raz, I will keep that in mind! My friend says the shed is already on her dad's flat bed trailer, it's just finding time to haul it. And of course he lives in the middle of nowhere. But I will do some more hinting. I'll let you know if I need to take you up on that very generous offer (and of course I'd pay for gas), I don't want to put anyone out... you know, more than necessary to get my shed.

While I'm thinking about it, anyone (within reasonable distance of the Ann Arbor area) happen to have a couple old junk tires lying around? I know, I know, those should not be hard to find, right? I just haven't tried yet. Should post a request on Freecycle or Craigslist. I heard that they make pretty good goose nests--cut out a portion of the tire so they can walk in, fill the tire with straw, keeps the straw nice and confined and also the eggs. Thought I would give it a try.

Wish you weren't so far away. We have LOTS. At some point in time someone *cough* my in laws *cough* thought the woods on our property was a personal dump. Clean up is going to take until I'm dead. Probably longer.

 

[yorkchick]

Late February is pretty normal here. Imprinting ganders increases the likelihood of human-aggression at maturity. I wouldn't go gung-ho with the oyster shell, goose eggs are hard with very thick shells to begin with.

Thank you Olive! I love your advice. I especially like it when it tells me that the easier option is the better one. But I have great respect for it in any event. So far the goosers have been nothing but charming. Waitng to see how they will be during breeding season!

 

[NovaAman]

That's brilliant! Wonder if that'd work in the duck pen during the spring summer fall months...

 

[chicken grandma]

Domestic Mallards can fly. Ours did a few fly overs every day when we had them.

I mean REALLY fly, as in fly South with the wild mallards when the snow arrives.