Hi all, I need some advice please on my rescued mallard ducklings. We rescued 10 eggs from a nest that had been built on the top of a 12 foot wall which was being demolished. We did manage to get mum too and I put them together in a nice quiet pen to hopefully continue sitting. When I checked she was only sitting on 3, so I put the rest in the incubator. Then mum decided to leave those 3 and fly away. We have now hatched all 7 in the incubator. They are doing well and eating chick crumb. They do seem to be very attached to us and show no fear. Last year I rescued some that the mum had been run over. I released them into the river at the bottom of our garden once they were fully feathered and quite big. They seemed to be more scared of us and had had their mum for a bit. Will these ones be ok to release when they are older? I didn't know whether they are going to be too humanised? My other thought was whether a broody hen would take to them?
Any help appreciated, Hetty
Farming Friends Forum » Ducks
Rescued mallards
(5 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Hi Hetty, I think you may find that the mallards will think you are Mum and behave more like domestic ducks. You could see if your broody hen takes to them but I wouldn't count my chickens! lol
Keep a close eye if you do decide to go down this route.
As the mallards grow they will fly about the place and probably return to your smallholding as home. When they are mature they will want to find mates and will fly off in search of them - possibly bringing them back to nest with you again next spring.
Do you have river/pond nearby with ducks and ducklings on that you could release the ducklings to when they are over a week old? If you allow them to free range now, they will be used to catching flies and insects - preparing them for life in the wild.
Good luck whatever you decide to do.
SarahSarah LPosted 2 years ago # -
I have to say I think a week old would seem a little young to release hand reared ducklings into the wild, my biggest fear for them at such a young age is been vunerable to attack even from other ducks if they try to tag onto a family
mo xPosted 2 years ago # -
Thanks for the advice, I was worried that if I let them go early then they haven't got a parent to warm them up once they have been swimming, so presumed they needed to be fully feathered. We have a river right next to the garden, but again the thought of them being vulnerable to predators is worrying, I think I will let them in the garden, but in a run and go from there.
Posted 2 years ago # -
That will be a great compromise then, to keep them with you and let them see the river next door, perhaps even take them on escorted trips there when they are a little bigger.
SarahSarah LPosted 2 years ago #
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