Most domestic pet ducks cannot fly as breeders have hatched pet ducks with specific characteristics and have lost the ability to fly. Most breeders have a particular outcome in mind, such as ducks who can produce more meat hence selectively create the ducks to be larger, making them incapable of flying. Other duck breeds can fly for short distances, such as the runner ducks but cannot attain a substantial flight. Therefore, it is ideal for clipping the duck wings for all domesticated ducks to prevent them from flying away.
Nonetheless, some small duck breeds can fly to long distances, which makes clipping essential if the duck Is not trained to stay in the yard. When selecting a pet duck, it is crucial to consider their flying ability. Some ducks cannot fly and can be regarded as clipping can be a challenging task. Some pet duck bond with their owner and never fly despite having the ability to.
What kind of ducks does not fly?
Most farmers have pursued duck breeding with the intent of creating specific ducks for specific purposes. Various ducks have varying characteristics, with others not being able to fly, others producing more eggs, and others producing more meat. Some ducks that cannot fly and make the best pet ducks include;
Pekin Ducks
These are the common thick, large, white Aflac ducks with tranquil temperament and demeanor. They are most common in photo shoots and TV commercials as they are soft yellow ducks. They also make up the most domesticated pet ducks in the world as they cannot fly off. Additionally, they can be bred for meat and eggs.
Rouen Ducks
These ducks belong to the same family as mallard ducks and have beautiful colorations, and are heavier. They are very friendly, calm and are explicitly bred as pet ducks. The Rouen duck is too large and heavy to fly; hence there is no need to clip their wings.
Cayuga Ducks
This breed of ducks is medium-sized and has a striking unique green plumage. Their size is heavy enough to make them not able to fly. They commonly have a black color, and when under the sun, the feathers show iridescent green or purplish hues. There are most quiet ducks making them great pets for a quiet neighborhood.
Buff Ducks
Buff ducks are ubiquitous backyard ducks, also referred to as buff Orpington ducks. They are created for both laying eggs and as a source of meat. The buff ducks have a relaxed demeanor and come in a wide range of colors. They are medium weight with a cute golden buff plumage, making them unable to fly.
At What Age Do Duck Fly?
When the female duck lays her last egg, she begins the incubation process. This involves sitting tightly with the brown plumage blending with the environment perfectly. The female duck rarely leaves the nest except when stretching or feeding. Twenty-eight days later, the eggs begin to hatch, and within 24 hours, all the eggs have finished hatching.
The ducklings take 10 hours in the nest, drying up and getting used to walking. Early the next morning, the mother duck leads the duckling to the water they feed, increasing their survival chances. The ducks cannot survive without water and their mother as they still need their mothers’ warmth and food. The ducklings also need to be protected as other older ducks can kill them.
It takes 50-60 days before the ducklings become independent. They can finally leave the nest but stay close to the feeding area and be used for future brooding and roosting. After two months, the ducklings can now fly and can leave their mother’s watching eye. The ducklings are basically ready for migration and molting. Molting involves replacing old feathers, making them vulnerable to predators as they cannot fly during this phase. The molting process takes two to three weeks, and when the feathers are fully formed, they fly off to warmer areas.
How Long Can A Duck Fly For?
Most ducks can fly at the speed of 40 to 60 mph, with the average being 50 mph. With this speed, the duck can travel up to 800 miles taking almost eight hours. After such a distance, the duck needs to rest and feed for three to seven days to refill the flight’s energy consumed. The fastest duck recorded in history to fly at the top airspeed is the red-breasted merganser. The duck flew at a speed of 100mph. The canvasback flew at 72mph, becoming some of the common fastest ducks. Other ducks, on the other hand, can fly only at a speed of 30mph.
When migrating, ducks can reach an altitude of 200 to 4000 feet high, with others capable of going higher. Some ducks have been spotted at heights of 16400 to 21000 feet. Ducks like the black brant are known to fly long distances of up to 3000 miles in 60 to 72 hours. During the flight, the ducks lose almost half their weight.
How Duck Flight Works
Ducks have some physical attributes that help them propel in the skies and survive high altitudes’ harsh conditions. They include;
- Ducks have small wings forcing them to flap their wings more often, around ten times per second. This helps to keep their heavy bodies stable in the sky. The wings are long and pointed, giving them the advantage to fly faster.
- Ducks are less agile and have broad wings that enable them to avoid obstacles like trees. The diving ducks have a more extended wing to fly above the water, where they do not require much maneuverability.
- The feathers are asymmetrically shaped and overlap, enabling the wing to be tapered and curved. This increases the flight muscle and allows them to flap the wings quickly. The ducks also have more than 1200 skin muscles that are used for feather control.
- Ducks have ten stiff and log primary feathers that are found furthest from the body. They are essential to flying, and during clipping, the primary feathers are cut off to prevent the ducks from flying. The primary feathers provide thrust ability and are dark in color, making the feathers resistant to wear.
- The secondary feathers are short and anchored to the forearm. They create a speculum with various colors, including purple, white, blue, and iridescent green. The secondary feathers force the air up from the wings making the duck lift.
- Ducks have wing coverts that keep the bases of the secondary and primary feathers covered. They create a smooth surface for air to flow. The tail feathers act as a rudder to control and stabilize the flight.
- The winglet, also known as alula, is a combination of three feathers attached to the wings. The alula forms a break in the wing’s surface, slowing the duck and aiding the landing process.
How to train ducks to stay in the yard.
Provide water
Water is essential for ducks as they need to dip their bodies into the water. Ducks are naturally born to spend time in the water, and they love to swim. You do not necessarily have to have a pool for the ducks, but you often need to provide enough water for the duck to take a bath. When it is too cold for the duck to bathe, he will stand in the water flapping and splashing the water. The ducks should be given regular access to water as much as possible, and they will stick around.
Sufficient food
Ducks tend to eat a lot of food, mostly grass, so having them access grass is ideal. Naturally, ducks have learned to survive on commercial foods only, but to make them happy and healthy, they should be allowed to forage too. Foraging is natural for the ducks, which involves hunting for worms, slugs, and small worms. Unlike chickens, Ducks do not dig a lot, making them less destructive in a garden and helpful in an orchard.
Ducks need high proteins in food for healthy growth. Ensure the commercial duck food does not contain any medication as medicines can be harmful to ducks. Ducks can be fed on kitchen leftovers like fresh bread and lettuce, diced in small pieces for easy eating. Besides, ducks should be fed in open feed containers.
Egg-laying
Some duck breeds are excellent egg layers, like khaki Campbell ducks that lay up to 300 eggs in a year. Duck eggs are more nutritious with high protein content and can be used for baking cakes, and are suitable for bodybuilding. The eggs are often expensive than chicken eggs and are hard to manage commercially in the customer-production ratio.
Ducks tend to lay eggs through the night or very early in the morning and do not lay in their nests. This makes collection hard, and if left, they can disappear to scavenging animals like crows. To encourage the ducks to lay in one place, provide a secluded spot next to the nests.
Breeding
Domesticated ducks are not the best in hatching as they do not sit on the eggs. The eggs can be incubated just like other poultry eggs and take between 28 to 33 days to hatch. Without artificial heat, brooding the ducks from hatching takes about three weeks with ambient temperatures. Some common domesticated breeds include the Pekin, Muscovy, Rouen, Khaki Campbell, and Indian Runner.
Sociability
Ducks tend to be very social creatures and so it is recommended to keep two or more ducks. Most of the ducks get along with any other pets and sometimes do not bother other poultry. If the duck is not hand raised and given much attention, he will want to fly as they can be afraid of humans. Besides, some ducks are more trusting than others and are easy to interact with.
Housing
Ducks are naturally weatherproof, and they only require sunshine. However, the ducks should be provided with a shelter to keep them dry, safe, and a place to sleep at night. Most pet ducks cannot fly, so having a fence is adequate for them to stay in one place. The ducks also require a shade to stay when the sun scorches. Dogs and foxes are common duck predators, so you should ensure to have a safe area where the ducks will be locked up at night. Unlike chickens, ducks do not go back to their sheds in the evening and should be followed up to keep them safe.
How to Clip Duck Wings?
Clipping the duck wings is the most common way to prevent the ducks from flying. The duck wings can be trimmed once yearly during fall. During the summer season, ducks tend to molt on their own and drop the flight feathers. The steps of clipping the duck’s wings include;
- Move the duck to a quiet and calm place with fewer distractions. This helps the duck to minimize anxiety and stay relaxed during the clipping process.
- Put the duck to lie on his back. If the duck is getting clipped for the first time and is not used to the process, wrap him with a towel exempting his head and neck. Remove one wing from the towel wrap and extend it fully by holding it by the wrist bone.
- Check to see the blood feathers on the wing as they are usually pink at the base, and the blood vessels can be seen inside the quill. The blood feathers are still developing and are not hollow yet and, if clipped, can be damaged. They should not be clipped.
- Clip the ten primary feathers using tin cutters or sharp scissors. Begin from the outside of the wings while moving inwards, clipping one feather at a time. The flight feathers should be trimmed ¾ of the way down the primary feathers, usually next to the more significant feathers layer.
- Release the duck back to his habitat. It is not a must to trim both wings as clipping one does the job of preventing the duck from flying. This also minimizes the stress of clipping to the duck.
The Bottom Line
The best and common way to prevent the pet duck from flying away is clipping his feathers. Clipping should be done carefully to avoid bleeding. The other way to prevent the duck from flying is to attach a heavy material to the wings or spending time bonding with the duck. The ultimate goal is to encourage the duck to love staying where he is and not fly to other unsafe areas.