should I let 2 "wild" ducks near my duckling?

[Rainbow1036]

Several weeks ago I hatched a lone Mallard duckling that I found outside. I take the duckling for walks around my property which has a creek going thru it.

There are alot of domesticated Mallards that eat corn I put out for them but they dont get too close to me, about 2 weeks ago a female Runner and Pekin showed up, they honk alot but they come right up to my feet to let me feed them, today I was walking my duckling around the yard when the 2 new ducks showed up and as usual they climbed the bank to get to me. I started throwing them food around my feet and they began eating, the Pekin (which is much bigger than the runner) looked at my duckling with curiosity but never makes a move to get closer to him, The runner on the other hand stopped eating and tried to walk towards my duckling. Not knowing her intentions I charged the runner till she ran away.

Now the question, should I let the runner approach my duckling next time and see what happens or should I keep the runner away from my duckling? This was the 1st time my duckling has ever seen another duck and he seemed to be curious but still shy (he stayed behind me the whole time but kept sticking his head around my leg to watch the ducks lol)

 

[Rainbow1036]

I take it no one knows?

 

[miss_jayne]

try to avoid contact with outside wild birds with your birds. also with outside flocks. you

if you decide to 'adopt' said ducks, keep them quarantined for a month before adding them to your flock. save yourself the misery of possible disease, illness or infestation addition as well.

 

[Rainbow1036]

Ok thanks,

I dont plan on adopting the other ducks tho (unless they seem to be getting frostbite this winter)

idk if they have a owner somewhere along the creek (they sleep at night about a half a mile down the creek by the village park near a house that used to own a goose, but ive never really seen any sign of the ppl who own that house letting the ducks inside the gate)