Need advice please don't judge

[appps]

I've no idea on the legalities but I am curious what she does from here?

Is there a good site showing the difference between wild and domesticated ducklings so she can work out which it is?

If it is a mallard How long has she had it exactly? And would it be possible if its wild to return to its parent?

If its not possible to return and does appear to be the wild variety what is her legal obligation now?

For the OP you are obviously a grown up being a mum so you should be old enough to understand that sometimes no matter how hard it is you have to do what's right and not just what you want. Your post sounds like you are trying to convince yourself its okay illegal or not

My priority would be finding out for sure if it is wild or not. Permission to keep really depends on that and by the sound of it the behaviour could point to someone having dumped domesticated ducklings. Get a photo and see if you can get that cleared up so you know what you have to do from here on out.

Good luck!

 

[new duck mom]

I don't plan on letting it go. Yes he was alone at the pond no other ducklings and no mom. My husband didnt get him out of the water bc he thought the mom would be near by and this little baby struggled up the rocks and into my daughters lap. I'd say he likes me the most but he comes to my husband and kids. The new one that I bought is so shy. U would think he's the one from the wild. Yes I'm very attached and I think with his amazing personality he is attached to us and his new friend. The pond he came from is nasty. Trash everywhere. One duck was tangled in fishing line. So is it really so bad he becomes domesticated with my family? Wouldnt it be better to not separate them from each other or him from me?

 

[new duck mom]

 

[appps]

Again really sounding like you have convinced yourself either way. Nothing we say is going to change that is it

Clear up the breed. It may be a dumping ground for pet ducks and you may be worrying for nothing. But you need to know so you can do the right thing for the duckling.

 

[new duck mom]

O good grief I'm not asking for legal advice and I get everyone just wanting to follow the rules. I'm just asking if hypothetically I kept him, would he be ok just like everyone else's domesticated ducks? And aren't there mallards that are legal to have that are domestic? If there is another understanding stubborn rebel duck owner please help!!!!!

 

[appps]

Sorry you are taking offence. Tried adding smiley faces to show I wasn't trying to be harsh.

I could care less about rules. Got some saying I have to get rid of our much loved rooster at the moment so not a fan of rules just because somebody decided to come up with them.

What I was trying to say was you need to put emotion aside and do what is best for the duckling.

Good luck with it all though. I wasn't trying to upset you but suspect you are too emotionally invested to listen to anything but what you want to hear right now.

So bye, will leave you to it.

 

[new duck mom]

No I was not offended. I'm new to the online research thing. Hate technology. I'm a book nerd. Just get stressed trying to research what I want. Plenty of info on hunting mallards. I do appreciate everyone's advice and help I really hope I didn't offend anyone. I do want to do what's best for him and I just don't understand the reasons for the laws. Im sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[jdywntr]

O good grief I'm not asking for legal advice and I get everyone just wanting to follow the rules. I'm just asking if hypothetically I kept him, would he be ok just like everyone else's domesticated ducks? And aren't there mallards that are legal to have that are domestic? If there is another understanding stubborn rebel duck owner please help!!!!!

Okay. Take a breath. In your first post you asked for advice and why it was illegal which is what everyone is responding to.

Upon further information you provided, that the duckling came out of the water and walked up to your child, it is HIGHLY unlikely that it is wild. My 9 day olds that hatched under their mom here won't walk up to me and I give them food several times a day and they've seen me since they hatched. This is almost 100% a dumped duckling that someone purchased and then decided they didn't want and so dumped it at the pond.

I think that all of us wanted to ensure that you weren't going to release it later because that question comes up VERY often.

It looks like it may be a mallard. But that eyestripe makes me wonder if it could be a Rouen. Rouens look identical but are larger and usually have 2 eyestripes although they can have 1 or 1 with a dot almost like yours.

He will be okay with you, though it is usually better for them and easier for you if they have another duck friend. As an only duck, he will need to live inside and he will be VERY bonded to you and your family. If you haven't yet, read the info in the stickies (blue section along the top of the duck forum). You will find info on feeding, water, housing etc.

If you don't want to get another, do a search for "indoor duck" and you will find some threads on how people care for them. (I don't have the patience for an indoor duck

) Oops, just realized you said you got it a friend. Good for him. What breed is the other one?

Good for you husband and daughter for rescuing this little guy. He would likely not have survived much longer without it. Welcome to duckdom and if you haven't realized it yet, be prepared for the stink. Ducklings are gross little poop machines. Lucky they are so cute.

 

[Speceider]

The laws are a result of the 1914 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The only reason it's easier to keep wild waterfowl than other wild birds is because at the time, there were wild waterfowl being kept, particularly mallard and Canada geese. Had people been keeping blue jays, it would probably be easier to get blue jays. Mallards in many states, including Texas are extremely problematic because of hybridization with mottled ducks. Florida has restricted owning mallrds, and a decent proportion of mottled ducks in Texas are hybrids.

Clint

 

[ducksinarow]

Yes there are domesticated mallards. They are genetically about the same. You rescued it. You got it a friend. You are taking care of it. Just keep the paper work you bought ducklings. I also do not understand why we can import species that end up being a problem like starlings and house sparrows and yet not have a domestic species. I however have a local rehabber that I take my rescues to. Not everyone has one close to them.