[monkeysox]

Hi guys,

I am after some duck advise please. I have recently acquired 5 hand reared mallard ducklings (I use duckling in the loosest of senses they look very much like proper ducks and the drakes are starting to show the green head) They were dumped at my place of work by a person thinking that releasing them into the wild was the best thing for them despite them knowing nothing about the real world at all and following people etc. They are wonderful little characters and now have a home for life with us. However they are our first experience of ducks as pets and I would gladly accept any advice going! They are at the moment eating mixed corn and enjoying it - is this ok for them or do they need more? When do I need to take the excess drakes out? Might I ever get eggs from little ladies!?

Assitance required!!

Thanks         

[jaykay]

I think they would be best on layers pellets rather than just corn. I feed mine mainly layers and corn for a treat in the afternoon.

You won't want more than one drake for 3-4 ducks or they hassle them beyond belief. Should be ok until breeding season starts but keep an eye on them, duck sex is rather brutal at the best of times, let alone with too many drakes joining in.

As for eggs, I think they're quite likely to sneak away and make a nest. If not, they have quite a short laying period but you should get some 

Dad reared some tiny Mallard ducklings one year, whose mum was killed on the road near them. One day they flew off around the next field and to the river but would come back for their afternoon tea for ages. Eventually they disappeared properly, though one or two still drop in occasionally 

[jameslindsay]

Good for you moneysox taking them in and giving them a home. Layers Pellets is indeed the perfect diet for them although they do love corn. Start to introduce them to bread and any left over greens as they love these too. Just remember that mallards are strong fliers and if they are happy with you they should always return to you if they do go off. Good luck.

[jaykay]

Good for you moneysox taking them in and giving them a home

Just that 

If you'd rather they didn't fly off, clip their wings. I'm right-handed and do it as follows:

Hold bird between right side and right elbow, use left hand to spread out wing. Using strong scissors, cut off flight feathers on one side only.

Repeat after moulting. Doesn't hurt them, they can still flap/jump but can't fly any distances like this (as go round in circles!)

[monkeysox]

Thanks everyone 

I shall go and purchase some layers pellets for them at the weekend. A friend mentioned putting them on growers pellets before the layers? Is there a recomeneded amount I should give them?

They put themselves to bed last night - I was so proud!

They are settling in well to our little menagery!

       

[jaykay]

I feed mine ad-lib, ie they can take what they want.

I've never used growers pellets, think they're useful if you're fattening meat birds. Mine have always gone from chick/duckling crumbs to layers - and yours sound too big for duckling crumbs.

I'm impressed you've got them trained to go to bed nicely already   Glad to hear they've settled in so well, they did well finding you  

[monkeysox]

I didn't really train them, they just did it! It may be a different story tonight though They really are little treasures though.

[goosepimple]

I feed all our ducks mixed corn, we don't use pellets at all and the mallards tuck in just fine.  They will fly off and may return if they know there is a food source at a particular place and time each day.  Ducklings here are all fed on wholemeal breadcrumbs/weetabix mixed with milk and I leave a bowl of it near our river (they know to expect it) especially for the mallards which are more likely to take their young straight to the river than our Muscovies.  Jaykay was right about the mating game though - its rape and pillage with drakes, they are brutal to say the least and will gang up on a female even if she has tiny ducklings with her, it can all be pretty distasteful really, so if you have too many drakes it is worth parting with some.  Remeber though that Mallards are very successful at having lots of ducklings (usually around 10) but sadly are lucky to end up with about 2 or 3.  Good luck.