Wild ducks hanging with our domestic ducks

[featherhead007]

If you only knew my shock, when I found out I was a rooster signed, the avatar!

 

[chickens really]

She’ll go wheels up once they mount her lol

Huh?...Lingo a bit off from mine?...

 

[Akrnaf2]

Good morning.

For about four seasons now, we’ve had a pair of wild mallard visitors. I’m fairly certain it’s the same pair because, after giving treats the first year, they haven’t been skittish at all and come running with the chickens when I open the treat container. I’ve never tried to touch them, obviously, but they cohabitate peacefully with our flock of chickens.

This year, we have our 8 week old silver Appleyard Ducks on the property. I saw the wild pair a few times. About five days ago, the female came alone and hasn’t left. Male is nowhere to be seen and female has been sleeping in some underbrush. She’s not sitting on eggs. She seems to be coming closer to the inner yard area every day. My silver Appleyards are already much bigger than she is. Two questions:

Should I just allow them to socialize if it comes to that?

Is it normal for her mate to be missing this long?

=All the Ducks phatogens ARE in your flock!

 

[Conan]

Wheels up - take off

 

[harmonymw]

Huh?...Lingo a bit off from mine?...

When a plane takes off, it’s “wheels up”

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Those are gorgeous. Especially the female. My goodness.

I think they are hanging out at my inlaws farm pond. They just came down here to forage.

 

[Hopperkiller]

A friend has had a pair of mallards show up in her chicken and goat yard now for several years. Last year they raised a brood in the small ditch that crosses their three acres. With the goat fencing and Huck, dog found at deer camp, there are no predator issues except an occasional redtail. One day the family was gone. Parents are back again this year.

 

[harmonymw]

The male mallard came back today and everyone had a duck party.

 

[CayugaJana]

I think it would be very difficult to keep them away even if you wanted to. So since they aren’t causing any issues, I’d just take the opportunity to enjoy them.

 

[sannabelle]

Random question- if a male Appleyard was to mate with the Mallard female, would any ducklings produced from that mix be able to fly? Or would they be too large like most domestics