Some ducks wondered into my yard?

[cochinfan05]

Fortunately they are sleeping right under my bedroom window at night and something definitely scared them during the night. There are a couple stray cats in the area but whatever it was must have run off when I came barreling out into the yard in my jammies with the flashlight hell bent on protecting ducks that technically aren't even mine!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Fortunately they are sleeping right under my bedroom window at night and something definitely scared them during the night. There are a couple stray cats in the area but whatever it was must have run off when I came barreling out into the yard in my jammies with the flashlight hell bent on protecting ducks that technically aren't even mine!

Aww that had to have been a sight, I'm thinking really these ducks have to belong to someone and either they have left prior home on their own or someone just thought your place looked like a great dumping ground. Poor babies I'd offer them a home and protection. Ducks are very hardy and I doubt they would carry anything that your chickens could catch. Look at them feathers shiny in good weight? heck water fowl don't even get mites and lice if they have water to bathe in. Kiddy pools are enough to make them happy.

 

[cymbaline]

I'd just like to chime in and say that in February of this year I had a wild female mallard come to my house and stay. She was hanging around the pen, so I put a bowl of crumbles and corn out. Once she realized it wasn't going to hurt her (the bowl was purple and I think it freaked her out, lol) she dug in. Later I opened the pen door and my two mallard girls came out to greet her...and eat her corn, lol. She then walked right inside and started drinking their water. I left the door open for a while that day and she never left. I continued to leave the door open for a few hours every day in case she wanted to leave but she never did. Mind you, it was maybe in the 20s during the day with a foot or two of snow on the ground, lol. She was pretty calm, but she was also not tame. She wouldn't let me near her, and wouldn't even eat lettuce. My girls just adored her though. After about two weeks the weather cleared up one Sunday, and when I opened the door she walked right out and flew off. Haven't seen her since. I'm glad I could help her out for a little while though.

I also had a male wander over the spring before a few times. He would sit just outside the pen some days and hang out. He also went into their pen once but didn't seem to understand how to get out, and my presence as I tried to help really frightened him.

 

[cochinfan05]

I think I'm going to stop and get a plastic kids pool on the way home and place it in the hens run tonight while they free range. Hopefully if the ducks want to go for a swim they will go into the run ( without me chasing them around) and at least be a bit safer tonight.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They all look to be female unless they are too young for the male to be exhibiting his breeding plumage yet. I don't know that much about mallards though.

That is a great idea, with the pool, and if they are wild one of these days they will probably fly off but will be much better for it because you cared.

And yes we all know it's not legal to keep wild ducks but OP is not going to keep them against their will they can leave any time they want.

 

[caesargirl]

I have had wild mallards come hang out. They even eat out of my ducks food pans. When I walk near them they do skitter off, a little. If they are wild, they will leave. And unfortunately not everyone clips the toe on their domestics. You definitely may have gotten duck dumped.

 

[cochinfan05]

Regardless of dumped or wild I guess at this point I'll just provide them with food, water and protection until they decide to move on or stay. The run isn't covered and the hens get free ranging time whenever I'm home so I certainly won't be forcing them to stay. At the moment they seem to just stay huddled around were ever the food and water is placed. So if that happens to be in the run I really don't think they'll mind. I'm inclined to believe they're this years ducklings. They just don't seem very old. Everyone who knows me knows I love and spoil all my animals and I'm a sucker for a stray!

 

[caesargirl]

Good for you!!!! And good luck!!!!

 

[seashoreduck]

Although they are timid they definitely don't seem "wild". They did recognize the crumble after all. I will investigate with the neighbors today after work to see if they possibly escaped someone's yard. I will try to look at their feet. Right now I'm not being to pushy with them. I am willing to try to lure them into the chickens yard but I'm leery to expose my chickens to any "bugs" from these new guys.

Honestly, when I had free-range mallards during the winter I adopted several friends who would also eat out of my hands (mine were banded) one particularly bad day duck word must of gotten around becuase I woke to find no less than 50 ducks on my door step. Many were shy but quite a few were very social. They were used to humans feeding them but they were very much wild ducks.

My grandmother once had a very nearly domesticated chimpunk who used to know commands and live under the deck but it was still a wild animal. I would go very, very easy on the feed until you know for sure they are domesticated.

Many states require back toe clipping on domesticated mallards, rouens and wood ducks if you can get close enough to one look to see if it's back toes are intact.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/166280/marking-my-wood-ducks-help''

If you see this you can know for sure they are domestic, if you don't then chances are they are wild.

 

[cochinfan05]

Honestly, when I had free-range mallards during the winter I adopted several friends who would also eat out of my hands (mine were banded)  one particularly bad day duck word must of gotten around becuase I woke to find no less than 50 ducks on my door step.  Many were shy but quite a few were very social.  They were used to humans feeding them but they were very much wild ducks.

My grandmother once had a very nearly domesticated chimpunk who used to know commands and live under the deck but it was still a wild animal.  I would go very, very easy on the feed until you know for sure they are domesticated.

Many states require back toe clipping on domesticated mallards, rouens and wood ducks if you can get close enough to one look to see if it's back toes are intact. 

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/166280/marking-my-wood-ducks-help''

If you see this you can know for sure they are domestic, if you don't then chances are they are wild.

That's pretty cute about the chipmunk. I'll try to be careful with the feed. I'm really only offering a bit sprinkled on the ground in the morning. I'd understand the situation more if I had ducks already to attract more but I only have the chickens and they are definitely not interested in being friends with the ducks. Prissy chickens!