4wk old Mallard - when/how to release back outside

[lkanadaycreed]

I have a 4wk old Mallard that was attacked my its mother due to misdirected aggression due to the presence of another duck she was looking to attack and was unable to. Every time we take this little duckling out for exercise - other ducks try to attack him b/c he isn't their baby. He has also started running towards other ducks. It is stressful taking this duckling out for enrichment b/c he is also quite fast and would probably get him/herself killed if released now (well - lost in the event we fail to catch him). The duckling spends most of its time on our back patio and seems to be okay with it other than not getting much exercise (it has more space that it actually uses) and looking a little bored sometimes. Also loves to stare at self in mirror outside for hours at a time. Also seems to like the company of one of our cats - which we have mixed feelings about as we hope he won't decide other cats are safe when out on his own.

1. I would love to wait until some adult feathers come in so that there is some protection from getting water logged in the event it is attacked in water. Would it scar this little one more psychologically if I just don't take it back out for extra enrichment for another week or so?

2. I read that the release should happen early in the am - but this little one is mostly active at night - is there ever a special case?

3. He is pretty good at foraging and catching bugs as he was already a week old when we had to take him in and repair wounds. Will he lose any of this ability if he does not go out for a week or so - just to give him more time to grow in case he gets away the next time we take him out? (He does get to catch bugs on the porch at night as we have been leaving the light on for part of the time to draw them in for him.)

4. We are having a hard time deciding what is in this duckling's best interest. Rehabbers here are over-run w/ ducks and I was told they will "keep the duck in a wharehouse" - sounds like our secure patio is better, honestly.

5. He is on all-flock, a few mealworms a day (seriously only gets maybe 5 or 6 b/c they are 45% protein and need to not let him get above 20%), 50/50 alfalfa/oat pellets crushed up, a small amount of corn/wheat/milo, brewer's yeast, ACV, and he gets his own bugs. Also gets mud-water when he gets to go out - but haven't taken him out for the past 2 nights.

6. Should he be released far away from where his mother stays (in case he manages to cross paths with her and she attacks him again)?

Thanks for any info

 

[casportpony]

You should take it to a wildlife rehabber.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

one duck being released alone doesn’t have a good survival chance, a rehabber will have him with other wild ducklings

 

[lkanadaycreed]

I was told the rehabber here will send it to live with someone once it is an adult - how will that work if he is Mallard? Won't he just fly off?

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

I was told the rehabber here will send it to live with someone once it is an adult - how will that work if he is Mallard? Won't he just fly off?

if it’s a rehabber, they may mean somebody’s yard. that way it can be monitored until ready to fly away

 

[lkanadaycreed]

Also - this is an apartment complex where approx 60 ducks live on 3 large ponds - so he will have access to extra food, etc.