Wild Colors Rear
Jul/100
Advise on mallards living with domestic ducks?
About 4 months ago, a Mallard Mum disappeared leaving 10 2-day old chicks. When we found them they were very cold and we didn't think they would survive, but with the aid of a hairdryer, 5 lived and we reared them under a heat lamp. They now live with my 2 Aylesburys, 2 call ducks and 6 chickens. In the last three weeks or so they have identified themselves as 3 boys and 2 girls.They are free to fly away if they want to as they are free range by day, going into the hen house at night. Do I have to separate them from the domestic ducks in case they mate with them? I dont want to because it would upset them and would mean they cant be free range any more. I know wild ducks only lay fertilised eggs, and it would be lovely to incubate their eggs, but how can I identify their eggs....are they smaller than chickens, or a different colour? At what age and at what time of year do they mate?( They seem to be starting to show signs of it already.) And can you give me any other advise?
They certainly will mate with your Aylesburys, like all drakes Mallards are randy little brutes and anything with feathers is fair game ! The Mallard eggs should be smaller than the Aylesbury eggs and will be 'duck egg blue' ! They will start laying in the spring but may start pairing up and even mating earlier.
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