Should I give my Mallards away?

[Marty1876]

I have not read anyone else opinion on this matter, but as an local bird rescue person, please let me assure you that it is acceptable to have wild bird as long as you don't prevent them from leaving. IN fact, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT, wild birds become very dependant upon help offered to them. If you just haul these birds off, they have no training for the wild, and no flock to join, and nobody to help them, and they will likely die, or end up with a rehabilitator after they are found nearly dead from lack of food. It is important that truly wild birds, like these ducks, be free to leave. Don't pen them in anything less than 12 x 12 (ducks can and will escape that if they want) and NO TOP for the pen. Do let them have more space if you can. They may choose to follow a flock this fall, and thats ok. DON"T PREVENT them from leaving in any way, but don't just abandon them now that they depend on you for food. My hands are full with many such other poor birds who some unknowledgable person freed, thinking to do them a favor. It was no favor, believe me.

 

[DuckLady]

I have not read anyone else opinion on this matter, but as an local bird rescue person, please let me assure you that it is acceptable to have wild bird as long as you don't prevent them from leaving. IN fact, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT, wild birds become very dependant upon help offered to them. If you just haul these birds off, they have no training for the wild, and no flock to join, and nobody to help them, and they will likely die, or end up with a rehabilitator after they are found nearly dead from lack of food. It is important that truly wild birds, like these ducks, be free to leave. Don't pen them in anything less than 12 x 12 (ducks can and will escape that if they want) and NO TOP for the pen. Do let them have more space if you can. They may choose to follow a flock this fall, and thats ok. DON"T PREVENT them from leaving in any way, but don't just abandon them now that they depend on you for food. My hands are full with many such other poor birds who some unknowledgable person freed, thinking to do them a favor. It was no favor, believe me.

THANK you!

 

[Marty1876]

If you have trimmed the wings of these ducks, you must never do it again. You must allow the wing feathers to heal, and never trim them again. If the ducks like you and your place, they will stay. If they don't, they must be free to leave. Feed them good, and they'll be too heavy to fly anyway. (just kidding) Just let them stay at will, and feed and love them. Beyond that, don't interefere with their rights as wild ducks.

 

[Diamond88]

At this point, I'd imagine they're better off with you. If you had given them to a wildlife sanctuary from the start they'd have a different life--not necessarily better, just different--but that's not the case and now they're used to being taken care of. Technically, yes, it is illegal to take ducks from the wild, but that doesn't mean it's morally wrong in all cases. It sounds like you've done a good thing for these ducks. The lady you talked to wouldn't have done the same thing you did, but that's okay. Nothing to feel bad about!

 

[Wynette]

I've read these posts a few times, and pondered this situation. While I think you did a wonderful thing in rescuing them, I'm not sure that I agree they should now be considered domesticated. These were hatched in the wild, and raised to (I assume) a few days or weeks old before you rescued them. They are "once removed" from being wild, in my humble opinion. That is completely different from hatchery or breeder stock that has been bred generation after generation in domestication.

I do agree that you ought not trim their wings again, and that they ought be given as much free range time as possible so they have the opportunity to join a wild flock. "Flock" is a key word - if they were to join a flock, they would learn from the others anything they "missed" from being raised in captivity. Again, my opinion.

But I also do want to reiterate that I believe you did a wonderful thing in raising them up & you ought to be very proud of that...but you should also be very proud if they choose to join a wild flock, because if they do, it's due to them being healthy and strong, and you should know you provided them with all they need to survive & thrive in the wild.

 

[Marty1876]

Wynette, very well put. I agree that its wonderful she saved them! I can't imagine them leaving for anything less than a flock. Stay or flock, either way is a good existance for them, and a joy to the one who made it possible.

 

[sparrow hawk]

So let me get this straight... the lady who "rescued" feral cats ( feral meaning wild ) is giving someone grief about truly rescuing something that would have most likely perished had a human not intervened. Did the cat lady re-release those wild cats into their natural habitat or did she relocate them into a boundried settlement?

 

[ohiofarmboy]

If there wings are clipped and they are used to being feed at a certain time and place then I would defiantly keep them for the ducks sake. They wouldn't be able to fly away from predators and would have trouble finding food at least at first. I think you made the right decision!

 

[Patty43]

I agree with sparrow hawk. She shouldn't be giving you grief over something your did to save the ducks lives. She does the exact same thing with feral cats. The ducks have been well cared for and have a safe place to live. If you give them the choice to leave and they do, there is no guarantee that they will survive. However i would be careful about who you tell about the ducks, as it could cause you some grief. I hardly think the ducks are missing something that they have no previous knowledge or experience of.