Sending wild ducks back to the wild

[Beatrix]

Hi there,
I live in the 'burbs, down a long driveway from a busy road. I've got a garden and a lawn and a little fishpond, with 3 small goldfish. About 6 weeks ago a mother Mallard duck turned up with 11 ducklings (it's Spring here). She was pretty insistent I pay them some attention and, as they were so sweet and so vulnerable, I started grinding up rolled oats and seeds for them. She never stayed the night but waddled up the drive and down a neighbouring one, possibly to the stream below us. Needless to say, the number of ducklings dwindled - to four. They're pretty big now with tail and wing feathers but not flying yet. They've become very dependant on my feeds, eat a lot and would like them hourly, thank you very much - and they make a huge mess all over my deck and paving! I've covered the pond so only the ducklings can get in, but I'm worried about my fish, who have become very shy. I've now cut back the feeds and it's a battle of the wills. Am I likely to have a duck family every season from now on? Is it ok if I just stop feeding them and let them fend for themselves?

Sorry I'm a bit off topic, but you all sound very knowledgeable.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If the hen produced ducklings where you live, they are likely quite capable of feeding themselves without your help, as much as it is appreciated.
That said, you can very likely have more families of ducks in your area of operations.

 

[Beatrix]

Yes, I should probably never had fed them in the first place ... But she's a single Mum!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes, I should probably never had fed them in the first place ... But she's a single Mum!

They do it all the time. That's how species survive for thousands or millions of years with no human intervention.

 

[Beatrix]

So should I go cold turkey (excuse the pun) on them? I've given them small meals today and they've mounted a protest on the deck, tapping on the glass and are quite up in arms. I hate denying them food but can see they need to get back to what they do best and forget me..

 

[Weeg]

So should I go cold turkey (excuse the pun) on them? I've given them small meals today and they've mounted a protest on the deck, tapping on the glass and are quite up in arms. I hate denying them food but can see they need to get back to what they do best and forget me..

Cold turkey. If you don't want them on the deck, the best thing you can do is fence it off. They'll do just fine without food, they can be quite cute and tempting though.

 

[raingarden]

Is the hen still around? Since you made them dependant, I think you are obliged to keep feeding them until they fledge and fly away.

 

[Beatrix]

Is the hen still around? Since you made them dependant, I think you are obliged to keep feeding them until they fledge and fly away.

Yes, their mother is still with them, ever vigilant. But will they fly away? That's my worry. I think I need to let them know this is only a one-star hotel, not a 5, and hopefully they'll get the message and go foraging elsewhere. Thanks for your help, folks.

 

[saysfaa]

A very well tested principal of behavioral science (MANY studies, MANY species, MANY variations), is that behavior in response to a reward will continue for a shorter time if the reward was given every time the behavior happened and then the reward was stopped cold turkey. It will continue for a longer time if the reward was given on a regular schedule (every third time, for example) and then stopped cold turkey. It will continue a longer time yet if the reward was given on an irregular schedule and then stopped cold turkey.

In each case, the behavior lasted longer in a similar way if the reward was not stopped cold turkey... the more random the intervals, the longer the behavior lasted.

And the same pattern for changing the size of the reward.

In spring/summer, if she brought 11 ducklings out with no help, she won't need help feeding her four.

But if you can't bring yourself to stop cold turkey then feed them a set amount at a set time. That way you take at least the random interval/size of reward part out.