Muscovy Ducks - Our duck flew away but is in the area... what to do?

[AliciaDuckLady]

Our Muscovy duck Juniper recently went through a moult and grew back her wings. We usually clip one. She wasn't flying very high, just from the back to front of yard to get to her food when I cleaned out the pen.

We were lured into a false sense of security because on Sunday she took off, over the houses and into the adjoining school / wetland area at the back of our house. We have had her for two years here and she has been pretty happy and has a very vocal campbell friend.

She was not to be seen for 3 days, but yesterday was grazing about 50m from our back fence. We think she may have heard our campbell Poppy quacking for her. She ran toward me (like a puppy it was so cute) when she saw me, she was in really good condition still, but flew away when I tried to direct her toward the yard. When I say flew away I mean really high and fast! She really has the hang of it!

I am wondering... is this a good sign, is it possible she is learning her way around and will be able to find her way home? We are regularly walking the area (good exercise) that she may be in to find her. It was good to know she can look after herself but I am worried we may have missed our chance to get her home. We really miss her!

Any advice would be appreciated and any info on habits of flying ducks returning to coops at night? Does that happen?

Thank you!



Our adventure duck - she has always been independant

 

[seashoreduck]

If I've learned one thing about ducks is that food can get them to do just about anything. Hide and remove all free-fed food that you can feeding only at certain times of the day. Ducks, if anything, are driven by their tummies. Yours seems to know this already so it should be easy to lure it into a situation you can do a quick capture and get those feathers clipped again.

 

[Buck Oakes]

If i were you i would catch her, anyway possible before somebody calls animal control, because people do that. ( mainly the dumb ones) Anyway you can get her and trim her wings, when mine were allowed to fly they never left home except across the street and into our neighbors pond, and both of those people love our ducks. Muscovies have a homing system where they stay, nest, and have a good food supply, you just have to hope she hasn't found anywhere else better than your place. I Hope you catch her and i hope she's safe

 

[AliciaDuckLady]

Thanks for your help, I will keep my hopes up and keep looking. We have started carrying pellets when we go. I am worried she may have found greener pastures, we do live by the wetlands, duck heaven. Hopefully she is safe and we can find her anyways. Those wings will be trimmed pretty quick if we do!