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

since they are dyed, they were probably for easter so they are no more than like three - four weeks old. The boys have a quieter peep and the girls are louder. The boys almost sound like they have a slight sore throat. As long as you don't keep them very long after they are completely feathered out, they should be ok, just dont baby them very much. If they get dependant on human feeding them then they wont have the wild instinct they need for the pond.

Around Easter (shocking I know), time I acquired to baby Pekin ducklings. Apparently a few of my buddies (ex-buddies) thought it would be a great April's fools joke to purchase them and put them in my bedroom while I was at work... NOT FUNNY AT ALL... Then when they said they were just going to just drop them off at the local pond; I had to step in! I have raised/bred show pigs all of my life, so I have a pretty good understanding on what baby animals need... And I know that sure as hell wouldn't work out to well for them... So of course I couldn't let them ditch these innocent ducklings! So I have been taking care of them since then, practically the same way as all of the ^above posts, heat lamps, proper food, plenty of water, safe bedding, etc. The one huge problem I am having with them thus far, is how skittish they are around people (including myself). Now I am a full-time student with a job, so I may not always be home, but I make sure that I go and check on them before I leave in the mornings and make sure to sit with them as soon as I get home everyday. Eventually they may lay down while I am around them, but as soon I move they are gone! This is becoming a huge issue because I know they need/would love to forage, enjoy the sunlight, and simply exercise, but two ducklings are QUICK and there's only one of me!!! There's just to much traffic, loose dogs, hawks, and tight places where I live to chance it. Everyone say's to feed them by hand, but they have a huge duck feeder that I always keep full! So when I go to work with them by hand feeding them (with their regular feed); I feel like they aren't even hungry so its pointless!?! When we use to have a skittish piglet, we could give them Vanilla Wafers and BOOM! Problem solved! They couldn't get enough of them and soon enough, you couldn't get them to leave you alone! So... In conclusion, I have two questions: 1) Is there anything else I can do to help them become a little bit more comfortable around me? Maybe some kind of a special treat that is safe for ducks that they like? A different method possibly??? 2) I'm guessing they were born some time around Easter. They are still yellow, but are slowly starting to show a slight white tint in color and their tail feathers are kind of spikey (well, lets just say different from the rest of their bodies) Any idea how old they may be? Or how much longer until they get their down feathers and turn completely white? Any advice is welcomed, Thank You

Where are you located? You should get your local newspaper to do an article, or maybe a local tv news program to interview you and Thor. It's a little difficult to ask people to make contributions more or less blindly. These days, I like a lot more information before I would send a contribution. I expect most people feel the same way.