Thanks so much for your responses. I too have the fear of something happening to her if we released her. But I should extrapolate on the "wild" we'd be releasing her to. It's a large, beautiful pond at a local University, & the ducks that are already there are pretty much tame/domesticated ducks. Seasononally, a few wild ducks stop by, but for the most part it's the same group. There are always lots of people around, the ducks are fed corn in the winter & LOTS of bread by visitors all year long! Not a bad deal! :) I am just afraid we're being unfair to her by keeping her by herself in our yard, but I definitely understand the risks of releasing. The best option would be to get her a friend, but my husband has nixed that idea! Thanks again! Jennifer

Just wanted to update this post: Our 9 ducklings are 55 days old. What an adventure this has been! We have had so much fun watching them grow, and my son has been journaling almost daily (had to sort of bribe him for that, but once he started, he kind of got into it - and someday I think his notes may be useful...) Sample entries: 5/11/11 Today the ducklings did a new morning exercise. This morning exersize was flapping their very tiny wings and running up the concrete by the pool. 5/17/11 I was watching the ducklings up close today and when I stood up, as usual the ducklings ran away except for one. That duckling fell on it's back and tried to get up. It couldn't because its legs and wings didn't help. So the duckling started peeping very loudly. Then it finally rolled over and ran away. 5/27/11 Today I got home from Outdoor Ed. I can see a big difference in the ducklings. When you look at one, you almost think you are looking at the mama since they're sooo big. ------------------------------- For the last several weeks, we've been treated to 2 daily water shows, one in mid-morning and one in mid-afternoon. During these shows, they all simultaneously go into rapid-swim mode where they actually walk on water, then switch to rapid-dive mode where they swim straight to the bottom of the pool and hover around down there for a 5-10 seconds before surfacing w/ a plop. To see all 9 do this at once is hysterical. They are practicing flying several times a day and it's so cute. They will flap their wings while sort of galloping along. Some are getting about an inch of air, but they have to really work for it. Mama still leaves a few times each day, and as always, they don't like it. They quack (and they're much louder than they used to be, unfortunately) when she's gone...but she always comes back within a few minutes of leaving. It has been, and is, a LOT of work. I don't ever want to do this again! That said, I'm not sorry they chose our home because it's been such a learning experience - I just don't want to go through it again. If I see any of them in our yard once this group has migrated, I will NOT encourage them to hang around (whereas before I just let them visit since it was always a short visit). I am reducing their food now, in an effort to have them forage more...which they are doing. I have almost no flowers left in my backyard and there is MUD where there never was before! We also haven't been able to use our pool since they were born, so we are really looking forward to their departure (as much as we will miss those daily shows). Once I know they can fly, I will not put food out for them, but for now, I feel the ducklings still need some since they can't fly. I'm hopeful though that if there is less and less, they will fly sooner. Does anyone have any experience with mallard ducklings learning to fly? I had thought they could fly between 50-60 days, but they don't look like they'll be taking off within the next few days, so mine may be here longer. I'm really ready for them to see the world though, so any advice is appreciated. A few pictures of the last 8 weeks: How they slept the first night: A family outing: They liked to hang out on the wall between the jacuzzi and cool dip: You can see how they're growing: Today, they're all the same size!

Wild ducks have been known to nest on window sills on tall office building in London! When mother duck knows it time for their first outing she encourages the ducklings out of the nest by leaving it herself and they will free fall to the ground very very rarely hurting themselves as they are light as feathers. Mother duck will then gather them around her and head off to the nearest pond usually in one of the London parks often bringing the London traffic to a complete standstill or a member of the public will ring the RSPCA (animal rescue service) who will then take the whole family to a safe haven telling mother duck not to be so daft in future as to build a nest half way up a tall building!!!

It is illegal to keep a wild duck. You must have a permit. If I were you I would get them to a rehhaber, take them back to the creek, or file for a permit. How were they hurt exactly? I had a baby duck hatch out in my 'bator with a deformed neck and a paralyed leg. His nex is bent at an odd angle, almost an S shape, and he swims in circles because he can really only kick with 1 foot. He was rasied with 2 silkie chickens and now thinks he is one. Just to let you know, when a duckling is raised by humans the imprint on you and not just think, but know they are human. They loose their insticts and need you to help them survive. Try not to handle them too much and get them back with the mother and siblings as soon as possible. If you have had them for awhile they may already be imprinted on you and you cannot just turn them back out because they do not know how to find food and do duck things. I would consult a rehabber in your area.