Mommy was hit by a car

[jennvb99]

The poor little stinkers lost their mom this week... :-( and they are freaking adorable! they are doing really good with the feed i got them. and as soon as they are a little bigger they will go outside permanently. What I am wondering is... can i let them fly to migrate now that they will be raised by us? Thanks also.. does anyone know what kind these little ones are? and is there a way to tell gender before they get their grown up colors?

Jennifer

 

[luvmypets]

Those are young mallards and quite young at that. They may have bonded with you and considered you as a mothering figure. Do you want them as pets? I would lol

easiest way to tell drake from hen is by quack.. Drakes have a soft raspy quack while females have a loud stereotypical duck quack.. When they are older males get a curl on their tales while females stay straight.

 

[jennvb99]

We do plan on making them pets My concern is when they learn to fly... we would like to keep them in the back yard. They are just adorable. and i love sitting with them, and listening to them cheep in their sleep... Ha!! oh they are just adorable, its ridiculous.. LOL if they take off on us.. will they come back to this spot in the spring?

 

[emma p]

They probably will not fly away. And if they start acting like they are going to make them a run with a cover. With people duck hunting and all I would not risk it.


But I know nothing about ducks
Good luck!

 

[luvmypets]

I agree or you could clip their wings and i agree nothing cuter then a lil duck!

 

[emma p]

I can not stand any more pictures of ducks... I WANT SOME!!!

 

[nuttyboo]

We had 5 ducklings last summer raised them, they started to fly up and out of run they'd come back in the evening with a little call to be put in coop, but when the other ducks were migrating they flew away with them.

 

[Dr. Todd]

Since SpecEider hasn't jumped in here and told you what you're doing is illegal yet I guess I'll have to be the bad guy.

Wild Mallards and all other wild waterfowl are protected by federal and state laws and can't be kept as pets without the proper permits and documentation of origin. The only legal option you have is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and turn them over to them.

The chances of getting caught with these birds is probably slim but the federal and state wildlife officers do check these forums and there's always a risk of getting that knock on your door.

Google does a pretty good job of finding rehabbers in most areas.

DT

 

[jennvb99]

Dr. Todd thank you for being on top of information. I have talked to the local rescue now that you have said that... our local is full for now, but i can foster with home inspections until they have openings or they fly off... They are bonding so they don't want them to get depressed and stop eating... There have been a couple of oil spills in our lakes the past few weeks so they have all those birds right now and the ones that have been injured by people in the area... they liked the food we got for them, and believe they will be safe with us for now. Thank you again for the information.

I appreciate it. I have their number for more questions and to give updates while they are taking care of the oil spill birds.