I already wrote back to this..but I don't think it sent.. oh well! That sounds like fun. I would just make sure I raised them until they were full grown.. Muscovies are a hardy breed of duck. Maybe you would like those... I love mine to death! They are so fun and so interesting..

I raised french rouens, they look like wild mallards, but they can't fly, and are bigger. A friend of mine put some on his pond, the only thing is if you are wanting some of the eggs, if they are not wanting to set them, they will usually lay them in the water.

another vote for Muscovies. They are not the prettiest in the world - but they can fly - and they roost in trees at night. Makes them less likely to be taken by predators. Since you will not be around to put them in a coop at night, breeds that don't fly might quickly turn into coyote fodder.

Thanks-

Fancifowl- how about purchasing wild waterfowl? Can I find out if wild ducks purchased at a local feed store are disease-free? Can my children safely handle them?

You are probably meaning domestic Mallards, thet are sold by hatcheries and are not wild. released they contaminate the wild gene pool and carry their brand of diseases to the wilds which they have no immunity to.
I raise bantam ducks(Calls and East Indies) in wire bottomed pens, i keep bathing tubs in the pens for them and they cam become quite tame.
I think it is a bad idea to put any waterfowl on a unattended pond, especially at this time. Waterfowl can do well in a appropriatly sized pen in the yard, they are dirty and need cleaned often under these conditions. It sure beats causing any more problems to the wild population tho. I might have some photos at my site of the calls in a pen? try WINDOVERFARM@groups.msn.com

er - Muscovies won't contaminate the gene pool of wild native ducks. Muscovies are the only breed of domestic duck which was not derived from mallard stock and 'scovy hybrids with other duck species are sterile.

Here is a link that might be useful: Oklahoma State U page on 'scovies

It is true that cairina moschata(Muscovy) and Anas platyrhinchas(mallard) may breed and result in usually sterile offspring; which do sometimes mate and reproduce. That would be a contamination. But I was not trying to be technical, just give what I feel to be responsible advice.

I as well have approx. 1 acre pond. Currently I have two groups of ducks that visit the pond, but not regularly. There are three, maybe one male and two females, and then periodically I have a flock (?) of about 9 - 12 who visit, then leave. I would love to have my own ducks, maybe 4 - 5, to live here, but want to be responsible too. Any comments or advice would be appreciated.

I am raising ducklings now for my private pond. I already have 4 adult ducks on the pond now that I have had close to a year and feed daily. When can I release the ducklings?

I wouldn't do it; mainly because it is hard enough when you are living there to keep predators from having lunch and dinner there on a regular basis until there are none left.

I had ducks, geese and turkeys on my small farm on a river and ended up losing a good half of them. I gave up trying to keep them. The darn farm cats took every one of my only turkey hatch.

Edited to add the original post is 10 years old... Your baby ducklings won't stand a chance if some mama duck doesn't adopt them.

I raised 6 duck from the hatchery they lived in a pin until they were grown they have been scared since I turned them out on our pond now 3 have disappeared they other 3 are terrified and I don’t know what to do for them I can’t even catch them now 😢