Thoughts on Banding and/or Wing Clipping Mallards

[TatorTots]

Hey everyone, I'd like a little more information on wing-clipping my mallards.. My boyfriend recommends I do it so I don't get heartbroken if they fly away.. However, I'm not sure how i feel about it..
Also, should I band my Mallards? I remember reading somewhere you have to have someway to identify them as farm raised vs wild??
I have one that is about 5 weeks old, and I just got 2 yesterday that look less than 1 week old. None of them have been sexed.
Thanks!

 

[melissamerry]

I clip my mallard's wings for their own safety. We live close to parking lots and busy streets; I would't want them flying into traffic on accident. Do you free range yours? We do have wild mallards that come and visit my three, and when they fly off mine sometimes try to follow. I feel safer knowing that they can't get into any trouble by accidentally flying off.

Where did you get your mallards from? I think the place that you pick them up from is suposed to have some form of verification of their domestic background. I'm really not up to speed on those laws since mine are white mallards, and most people just mistake them for Pekins or Calls anyways.

 

[TatorTots]

I got them from a farm supply store, they didn't have any paperwork or anything. The receipt doesn't specify either. They will probably be free range once they're old enough, however, there are a lot of predators in my area.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I got them from a farm supply store, they didn't have any paperwork or anything. The receipt doesn't specify either. They will probably be free range once they're old enough, however, there are a lot of predators in my area.

I have Muscovy's and I clip their wings to keep them home and safe. we live above a Mt. River and I don't want them going down there, not that they ever have tried even though they are free range and my oldest drake came from the river. But I don't want to take the chance of losing them to preds and we have a lot. Usually farm stores and other places that sell Domestic Mallards do a hole punch or something similar on the foot.