releasing my muscovy ducks

[32ducklingsandcounting]

currently it is mating season for Muscovy ducks. my dogs don’t have a mom and there’s 11 of them. my ducks are 3- 4 months old now and they can basically almost fly. i let them go almost 3 to 4 weeks ago and they got attacked so I brought them back in but I heard it was mating season and that’s why they were attacked by other male ducks. when do you think it will be time to let them go ? because they are big and they don’t have a mom. i’m posting this thread because I think one of mine flew out this morning and I ended up putting it back in their pen. any responses will help thank you

 

[Jpat]

Dont actualy release them into the wild...

 

[32ducklingsandcounting]

update the same duck flew out again. she is also is one week and a half older than all the other ones. she clearly doesn’t want to stay in her pen so I’m gonna let her just wander around now.

 

[32ducklingsandcounting]

Dont actualy release them into the wild...

okay

 

[Lil Drake40]

Looks like you live on a canal in Florida do you have Alligators? Probably keeps the Muscovy population down some. Are these your ducks or feral?

 

[32ducklingsandcounting]

Looks like you live on a canal in Florida do you have Alligators? Probably keeps the Muscovy population down some. Are these your ducks or feral?

i live on a lake with no alligators. they are feral.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So they really don't belong to you anyway you were just protecting them while they were babies? I guess really all you can do is let them decide looks like your fencing isn't going to keep them in if they want out anyway. Hopefully they will integrate into the feral population with out to much trouble. My Muscovy drake has never shown any interest in sexual behavior with our young Muscovy females it's usually spring after hatch of the next year before mating happens here. Maybe just let them make the decision on when to leave. Hopefully by then they can stay away from any drake or ducks that may want to harm them. It's very sweet of you to care about them.

 

[32ducklingsandcounting]

So they really don't belong to you anyway you were just protecting them while they were babies? I guess really all you can do is let them decide looks like your fencing isn't going to keep them in if they want out anyway. Hopefully they will integrate into the feral population with out to much trouble. My Muscovy drake has never shown any interest in sexual behavior with our young Muscovy females it's usually spring after hatch of the next year before mating happens here. Maybe just let them make the decision on when to leave. Hopefully by then they can stay away from any drake or ducks that may want to harm them. It's very sweet of you to care about them.

Yes I totally agree with you. My girl Sammy, flew out 2 times today, and after the second time, I decided its pointless to keep her locked in, since she flew out. She seems to be enjoying herself now and the grown drakes aren't trying to touch or mate with her right now. She's also sticking outside her pen, so I can watch her almost all day. Also, I know they look very crowded, and they are, put we are going to be building a big duck coop and putting food containers and a big pool that cleans itself. I'm super excited

 

[Lil Drake40]

Awesome keep us updated on it all.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I remember your posts. So, once your build is done please share. I am interested to learn about the pool that cleans itself too.