Will my muscovy return? Thoughts? *UPDATE* they did

[Snownoir]

I went out this morning to be greeted by 4 younger hens and 1 drake head bobbing and chirping, outside of the run. I ushered them in and was able to eventually get all of them into the coop where they were caught and a wing clipped. I figured it would be best to get it taken care of right away so the 2 girls wouldn't decide to take off again. They were NOT happy to be caught but too bad. I was able to also get the wing clipped on 1 adult hen that isn't setting or with babies. The young drake got out of the coop before I could get him but I don't think he'll go anywhere without the girls. Unfortuantely, the other young drake and 1 female have not been seen again but I'll keep an eye out.

yea!!!!! I'm so happy to hear that.

 

[Frank Phinster]

I wish you good luck that the last two missing ducks will show up sooner or later. I think they might show up for some food and company.

 

[jdywntr]

Well, aparrently I posted too soon. Last night, before dark, the 2 that came back were gone again. Clipped wing and all.

Now I'm really concerned. I saw them yesterday trying to fly and they just crash landed after not being able to get off the ground. Now I'm worried they'll just fall prey to predators as they aren't able to fly as well.

IF and when they show up again, I have NO idea how I'll keep them here, short of locking them in the coop.

 

[Frank Phinster]

So they took off regardless of clipped wings?

I think it's a choice between skylla and charybdis as we would say in German...but if the ducks fly off like this, keeping them in full flight is not really an option. Has any of your pekins fallen prey to any predator so far?

 

[jdywntr]

Well, now nobody is full flight but they still got off. Which I know is possible but I didn't expect them to get the hang of flying with uneven wings for a bit. I am really at a loss with what to do. There is nothing lacking in their envrionment, that I'm aware of. I have not seen the 2 girls today. I'll keep an eye out and maybe next time they show up, I'll contain them, somewhere. I hate to lose any, I raise them for meat but I'd rather eat them then have them fly off. But my biggest concern is introducing them into the wild here. Maybe if/when they come back I'll just put them in the freezer.

No. I haven't lost a duck to a predator, at all. (well, I don't know about the fugitives) and I haven't lost a chicken in months (now that the neighbor's dogs are taken care of.

 

[Frank Phinster]

When I clipped my scovies I made sure that I cut off enough feathers to create quite a gap in their wings so they would lose almost every buoyancy.

I actually believe that it is some kind of instinct that drives them away from your place, regardless how good they have it there - it would actually make sense for young ducks to travel around and look for a new place to stay.

Do you have the option to set up a pen and put netting over it so that they cannot fly off again?

If you haven't lost any duck to a predator so far, maybe clipping is not that risky, but one can never be sure about that.

 

[Going Quackers]

That's too bad! you know mine are all full flight, (knock on wood) they don't leave... i've had many young here so i disagree they look for a new place, they stay with the flock... you always have some more adventurous don't get me wrong, but my young stay closer to home than any of the ducks in the flock.

I wish i had suggestions for you. How frustrating.

 

[jdywntr]

So, another update. Yesterday, I was outside and there, in the run was the missing male muscovy, after almost 3 weeks. I caught him, somehow, and clipped a wing. Then, at dusk had to herd him back towards the coop as he looked to be making his way over to the neighbor's (about 2 acres away). Today, the 2 girls (clipped wings and all) came back. Tonight, they were all in the coop, on their own, before full dark. I'm hoping that this is the last time they'll leave. I've decided to clip wings for all of my birds first season and then see what happens after their first molt. I really like the idea of having them full flight, if only for predtor defense.