I raised Mallards last year...brooded them in the house for the first couple of weeks...OMG...MESSY!!!
I put mine in the pond out back and they flew away in the Fall....well, actually it was winter, but they were raised to eat the duck weed in the pond. They didn't do it, they prefered the cracked corn I provided.
As adults they were NOT friendly, but tolerated anyone who had food for them....ate it off my shoe, but wouldn't eat it out of my hand.
And FAST? Wow....they were so fast I was never able to catch them once I put them in the pond and barely when they were in the "brooder" in my front porch.
I read a lot about them before I got them and everything I read said that they would return to where they were raised to lay their eggs and ducklings. (I'll let you know if that is true in April or so) They will lay 9 - 15 eggs, leaving them unattended until they determine they have laid enough, then the hen sits on them, the drake acting as diversion for predators. If all 9 ducklings hatch from each of my 3 hens and the babies return in 2012, I will be HIP deep in ducklings.
Google "raising Mallard ducks" and you will find everything you need to know about raising them ... BYC folk can help you with info on keeping them in your yard....which would probably require wing clipping....unless you want "part time" ducks.
I put mine in the pond out back and they flew away in the Fall....well, actually it was winter, but they were raised to eat the duck weed in the pond. They didn't do it, they prefered the cracked corn I provided.
As adults they were NOT friendly, but tolerated anyone who had food for them....ate it off my shoe, but wouldn't eat it out of my hand.
And FAST? Wow....they were so fast I was never able to catch them once I put them in the pond and barely when they were in the "brooder" in my front porch.
I read a lot about them before I got them and everything I read said that they would return to where they were raised to lay their eggs and ducklings. (I'll let you know if that is true in April or so) They will lay 9 - 15 eggs, leaving them unattended until they determine they have laid enough, then the hen sits on them, the drake acting as diversion for predators. If all 9 ducklings hatch from each of my 3 hens and the babies return in 2012, I will be HIP deep in ducklings.
Google "raising Mallard ducks" and you will find everything you need to know about raising them ... BYC folk can help you with info on keeping them in your yard....which would probably require wing clipping....unless you want "part time" ducks.
