Do pet mallards fly south for the winter?

[CourtneyMB]

I live in western North Carolina, and was wondering if my 2 pet mallards would fly south for the winter? They're just a day old, but I'm already starting to worry.

We don't have any wild ducks in our pond, but there is a lake a few miles from here with many. Would they take off with these if they passed over our house in late fall? And if so, would they come back and visit us in the spring?

 

[rgn87]

I don't want to worry you, but I had two awesome mallards last year, and around labor day they just left for no reason. They were very happy at my house, but I think they left to mate.

 

[pringle]

ANY duck you raise when its a baby duckling will become dependant upon you and will surely suffer or die in the wild.I have 4 mallards and they havent flown away becouse I clip there wings and keep them in a fenced in area.Its not just that I want to keep them its also becouse I know they will suffer terribly in the wild if they escape.

 

[CourtneyMB]

Hm...so most people clip their ducks' wings then?

I don't plan on fencing them in; we do have a large pond and I have a floating house for them, but still worry about predators. I'm not too sure I would like to clip wings for this reason.... Such a hard decision.

 

[pringle]

Some people do some dont.When im outside I let them free range a bit and they come right back to me.Its a matter of them getting use to you and if they will come when called.As long as they know were there home is and there food they will stay.