Would 1 of 10 fly away?

[Luminide]

I currently have two flocks. The main flock has 10 ducks: 7 pekins, 3 unknown mixes, and most importantly what looks like a welsh harlequin/appleyard/pekin. She's small, mallard sized, and her wing feathers are almost entirely in. She's been raised with the pekins and seems to have taken one of them as her mate, but I'm concerned about her flying away. If a duck is the only one of a flock that can fly, what are the chances of them going solo and leaving?

Depending on the answer, I may need pointers on how to clip the wings of a duck that really, really doesn't want you touching it.

 

[ducklover87]

I currently have two flocks. The main flock has 10 ducks: 7 pekins, 3 unknown mixes, and most importantly what looks like a welsh harlequin/appleyard/pekin. She's small, mallard sized, and her wing feathers are almost entirely in. She's been raised with the pekins and seems to have taken one of them as her mate, but I'm concerned about her flying away. If a duck is the only one of a flock that can fly, what are the chances of them going solo and leaving?

Depending on the answer, I may need pointers on how to clip the wings of a duck that really, really doesn't want you touching it.

Is she a mix of all them or is that just what she looks like? If she's being raised with non flyers chances are she won't fly away. Most ducks can't really fly anyway. My khaki Campbell's can get about 5 feet off the ground for about 50 ft or so but that's it. They are about the same size as my welsh harlequins but my Welsh's can't fly like that. I'd just watch her and see how good of a flyer she is. Most likely she won't be able to fly away.

 

[Miss Lydia]

But Ducks love to fly if they can and sometimes do take flight and get lost and are never found, It has happened here on BYC, Just the sheer joy of flying has gotten them lost. Here's the info you'll have to decide. http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/clipping-duck-and-goose-wings-to.html I have Muscovy and I choose to clip one wing on my ducks because we are in heavy woods and if they take flight I would worry they wouldn't be able to find their way back, and would end up some preds dinner or get lost for good.

 

[Luminide]

Is she a mix of all them or is that just what she looks like? If she's being raised with non flyers chances are she won't fly away. Most ducks can't really fly anyway. My khaki Campbell's can get about 5 feet off the ground for about 50 ft or so but that's it. They are about the same size as my welsh harlequins but my Welsh's can't fly like that. I'd just watch her and see how good of a flyer she is. Most likely she won't be able to fly away.

That's just my best guess; she's from a farm supply store, and I've been told by members here she looks like a cross of those three.

Hmm, watching it is, then. It's good to know too that your Welsh's can't get far up. Thanks for your reply!

But Ducks love to fly if they can and sometimes do take flight and get lost and are never found, It has happened here on BYC, Just the sheer joy of flying has gotten them lost. Here's the info you'll have to decide. http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/clipping-duck-and-goose-wings-to.html I have Muscovy and I choose to clip one wing on my ducks because we are in heavy woods and if they take flight I would worry they wouldn't be able to find their way back, and would end up some preds dinner or get lost for good.

Yikes, those are some seriously trimmed wings. This blog is very helpful though, thank you.
Hm, I live around woods also and hadn't considered that issue before. Perhaps another good reason to trim my muscovies when they come of age.



Also- the timing of this blog is a little funny. This morning Nugget flew a few feet! She was leading the flock downhill, hopped a little, and went for it. Certainly not full flight, but she looked so happy and proud of herself when she landed.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

But Ducks love to fly if they can and sometimes do take flight and get lost and are never found, It has happened here on BYC, Just the sheer joy of flying has gotten them lost.    Here's the info you'll have to decide. http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/clipping-duck-and-goose-wings-to.html     I have Muscovy and I choose to clip one wing on my ducks because we are in heavy woods and if they take flight I would worry they wouldn't be able to find their way back, and would end up some preds dinner or get lost for good.

Muscovies can't fly though... They're a very heavy breed.....


Likely hood of her flying away is low, but getting lost whilst flying yes, however if you free range I'd leave her wings intact, it'll help her avoid predators.

 

[Luminide]

Muscovies can't fly though... They're a very heavy breed.....


Likely hood of her flying away is low, but getting lost whilst flying yes, however if you free range I'd leave her wings intact, it'll help her avoid predators.

That is misinformation. Muscovy wings make up for their size, and they fly very well.
Hm...they do free range, but they have an acre pond for escaping predators at the moment. Have to wait and see, I suppose.

 

[ducklover87]

That's just my best guess; she's from a farm supply store, and I've been told by members here she looks like a cross of those three.

Hmm, watching it is, then. It's good to know too that your Welsh's can't get far up. Thanks for your reply!

So I must admit my curiosity of what your duck looked like lead to go to your profile and look at your pics. I must say that from the pics it does look like a welsh harlequin just a very miscolored one. Maybe a mix but I'm not sure. I have 2 welsh harlequins and other than jumping into the air and "flying" for like 3 feet if that they don't really fly. If she is mixed with something chances are its probably a Pekin with how much white is shown. And they don't fly either. So other than your muscovies you probably won't have to clip her wings.

 

[cymbaline]

I currently have two flocks. The main flock has 10 ducks: 7 pekins, 3 unknown mixes, and most importantly what looks like a welsh harlequin/appleyard/pekin. She's small, mallard sized, and her wing feathers are almost entirely in. She's been raised with the pekins and seems to have taken one of them as her mate, but I'm concerned about her flying away. If a duck is the only one of a flock that can fly, what are the chances of them going solo and leaving?

Depending on the answer, I may need pointers on how to clip the wings of a duck that really, really doesn't want you touching it.

Are you able to weigh her? I have two mallard boys, and because one was so much larger than the other I became curious enough to weigh them. You just weigh yourself on a regular bathroom scale holding the duck, then put the duck down and subtract just your weight from the weight of the two of you together. The little one was 2.5lbs and the bigger one was 3.5lbs. The little one can really fly if he wants to, but the bigger one can hardly get off the ground. He can glide, very ungracefully I might add, from a higher spot, but he's just too chunky to get far, even though he is a mallard and technically within the normal size range (on the very high end). So I would say if your little one is even 4 lbs, which is still half the size of the Pekins, she won't be able to leave.

 

[hfchristy]

Our two half cayuga-half bantams took off over the neighbor's shed once when they were younger, but at full size with eggs in her belly, the female can't do more than the occasional flap over the fence and the guy isn't interested in going anywhere without at least one of his women. If they were ranging full-time it might be different, but they don't have a ton of space to exercise their wing muscles. They do still enjoy climbing up the kids' playground and "flying" off, and when the flock is running somewhere, the boy often prefers to fly the distance about a foot off the ground.