- Aug 13, 2018
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Hi Everyone!
(Sorry, this turned out a bit long! Thanks for reading!)
A couple of months ago we rescued a one day old Mallard duckling who we confirmed was abandoned. We nursed (heat lamp, grass shavings, duckling feed, then premium duck feed, kiddie pool, enclosed yard to rummage in, etc. etc.) it until it became a very beautiful and healthy two-month-old bird (drake). He definitely bonded with us and our whole family, including the dog to whom he took a very special liking! Over the last two weeks, we walked it (holding it) twice to a local small lake, which is a 10 min walk from our house. On the third time (4 days ago), he met some other mallards that live on the lake and followed them.
We knew this could happen and have been trying to decide if/when to release him and he seems to have decided that for himself. Our family is definitely sad to see him go but we've been told that this is the best thing for him. Since the lake is nearby, we've been checking in on him daily/every other day and can usually find him. He seems happy with his new group, but also still definitely recognizes us and swims to us, takes food from our hands and pecks at our shoes and hands. The other day, he was so excited to see the dog, he swam excitedly around her in circles, chirped and pecked at her. This went on for about 15 minutes until the dog started to get annoyed and we had to leave.
For those who raised Mallards before:
1) I know that ducks can come back to visit their home - since our home is close to the lake (10 min walk and probably a 5 min flight?) I am wondering what the odds are that he will find us? Could he remember the directions from the two times we walked him? Can he recognize his kiddie pool from above? He never flew over it (he still cannot fly).
2) Someone said that he will stop coming to us and act more like a wild duck being scared of humans over time - do you think this is true?
3) I am wondering where he thinks his home is to come back to? Clearly right now it's the lake, but I wonder if he knew how to find us if he would come home or at least for a visit?
4) Lastly, we did not know it was an option not to release him/take him to the lake as we were told that he should be a wild duck. He certainly seems very happy on the lake and we do not want to make him unhappy. But after watching some videos, I am not sure that a duck like that cannot be happy in a kiddie pool in someone's backyard? I've seen ducks larger than him live in people's backyards, in kiddie pools and act perfectly happy.
Please don't judge. We are just trying to cope with this new transition and figure out what to expect - if we can take him back and/or at least get our hopes up that he might visit one day.
Thank you!
(Sorry, this turned out a bit long! Thanks for reading!)
A couple of months ago we rescued a one day old Mallard duckling who we confirmed was abandoned. We nursed (heat lamp, grass shavings, duckling feed, then premium duck feed, kiddie pool, enclosed yard to rummage in, etc. etc.) it until it became a very beautiful and healthy two-month-old bird (drake). He definitely bonded with us and our whole family, including the dog to whom he took a very special liking! Over the last two weeks, we walked it (holding it) twice to a local small lake, which is a 10 min walk from our house. On the third time (4 days ago), he met some other mallards that live on the lake and followed them.
We knew this could happen and have been trying to decide if/when to release him and he seems to have decided that for himself. Our family is definitely sad to see him go but we've been told that this is the best thing for him. Since the lake is nearby, we've been checking in on him daily/every other day and can usually find him. He seems happy with his new group, but also still definitely recognizes us and swims to us, takes food from our hands and pecks at our shoes and hands. The other day, he was so excited to see the dog, he swam excitedly around her in circles, chirped and pecked at her. This went on for about 15 minutes until the dog started to get annoyed and we had to leave.
For those who raised Mallards before:
1) I know that ducks can come back to visit their home - since our home is close to the lake (10 min walk and probably a 5 min flight?) I am wondering what the odds are that he will find us? Could he remember the directions from the two times we walked him? Can he recognize his kiddie pool from above? He never flew over it (he still cannot fly).
2) Someone said that he will stop coming to us and act more like a wild duck being scared of humans over time - do you think this is true?
3) I am wondering where he thinks his home is to come back to? Clearly right now it's the lake, but I wonder if he knew how to find us if he would come home or at least for a visit?
4) Lastly, we did not know it was an option not to release him/take him to the lake as we were told that he should be a wild duck. He certainly seems very happy on the lake and we do not want to make him unhappy. But after watching some videos, I am not sure that a duck like that cannot be happy in a kiddie pool in someone's backyard? I've seen ducks larger than him live in people's backyards, in kiddie pools and act perfectly happy.
Please don't judge. We are just trying to cope with this new transition and figure out what to expect - if we can take him back and/or at least get our hopes up that he might visit one day.
Thank you!
