Wild Ducks Visiting Domestic ducks

[picklestheduck]

Hey yall. Yesterday I noticed a pair of wild mallard ducks swimming with my domestic ducks. My ducks are free range, so they were in a drain/stream thing in our horse pasture. My one female duck seems to be getting WAAAAAY to attached to these wild ducks. She will leave her two drakes to be with them. I'm afraid the wild ones will give them a disease or something. Should I be concerned? I'm also worried that my ducks will leave with the wild ducks. I finally locked my ducks in the run. The one female duck just paced back and forth trying to get out to go to the wild pair. My family is annoyed I have my ducks locked in their run right now, did I do the right thing? What can I do? I tried chasing the wild ducks away by running at them and making loud noises....it didn't work. They kept just flying over my head and landing on the other side. I'm just concerned my ducks are going to get sick or leave.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Only certain domestic ducks could fly alongside mallards (or other wild ducks). What type do you have again?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Oops posted too quickly. Any bird coming into contact with your ducks could pass on parasites and communicable diseases.

 

[picklestheduck]

Oops posted too quickly. Any bird coming into contact with your ducks could pass on parasites and communicable diseases.

I have 2 Cayugas and 1 Indian runner who go out for free range right now. I have pekins too but they don't usually go out. I don't think they can fly, I'm just afraid what would happen when the wild ducks fly away. Would they try to run on the ground after them? Not sure. Ok. Any ideas as of what to do then? I don't want to leave my babies locked up forever but those two wild ducks don't look like they are leaving....I tried for a long time to chase them away yesterday and they just kept coming back.... Thank you so much!

 

[Crazy Maizie]

None of those breeds will fly away. It's up to you to decide what you consider an acceptable risk. When some wild mallards flew into my yard, my ducks weren't out free ranging that day. I have a feeling they would have chased them off.
If your ducks are free ranging, they come into contact indirectly with plenty of wild birds.
But, this sounds like there would be more direct contact.

 

[raingarden]

We stopped keeping rouens when a wild Hawaiian Duck (looks like a miniature mallard) stopped by. They would interbreed and screw up the gene pool of an endangered species.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 2 Cayugas and 1 Indian runner who go out for free range right now. I have pekins too but they don't usually go out. I don't think they can fly, I'm just afraid what would happen when the wild ducks fly away. Would they try to run on the ground after them? Not sure. Ok. Any ideas as of what to do then? I don't want to leave my babies locked up forever but those two wild ducks don't look like they are leaving....I tried for a long time to chase them away yesterday and they just kept coming back.... Thank you so much!

What part of the world are you in? Maybe they are passing thru? Most Mallards migrate so maybe they are heading south. Unless your south. Lol I’ve heard of Cayuga flying so you might want to keep your ducks up until you see these Mallards have left. Hopefully they will.

 

[picklestheduck]

What part of the world are you in? Maybe they are passing thru? Most Mallards migrate so maybe they are heading south. Unless your south. Lol I’ve heard of Cayuga flying so you might want to keep your ducks up until you see these Mallards have left. Hopefully they will.

We are in Michigan, they DEFINITELY dont want to be here when winter hits full force. They almost looked like mini mallards to me but I'm not sure. Today they were not out there so we were able to turn our ducks loose. I'll keep an eye on them though. Thank you all again!!!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I bet they just stopped by on their way south.

 

[picklestheduck]

I bet they just stopped by on their way south.

Yeah