What to do about a duck (Merrimack: live, food, yard)
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So winter is pretty much here in SE NH but there is still a lone duck hanging around on the river in my back yard. He's either in the water or on the ice. This morning I took the dog out and as soon as it saw me it hopped up on the ice walked up the bank and came within 10 feet of me even though I hard a barking dog with me. I figured it had to be pretty hungry to get that close as they never do so I brought some bread out for it. I know you shouldn't feed them as they'll think your their new food supply, but I'd rather feed it than find it frozen in a snowbank.
So does animal control do anything for them or should I just keep feeding it or leave it alone? I'm not one to ignore an animal in need so it's not likely I'll let it starve to death.
She doesn't seem to be injured, she walks just fine and both her wings seem ok as she used them to get up the icey riverbank. Seems her friends are still around as there was another female and a male on the river this morning.
Are you able to catch her? I had a Mallard duck that lived with my chickens for many years and was quite happy and we even brought him in the bathtub for a nice swim on occasion
No, and I don't think my Dachshund would be too impressed with a new room mate. The other 2 are still around, and the neighbors are feeding them as well, so I'll keep my eye on them and see how it goes.
She'll either leave or not. Mallards can tend to be kind of "stay where they're ats" anyway. If no injury is present she'll either go or maybe stay. Definitely will stay if you keep up the feeding regimen. If injured, it might be better to let nature take its course.
We always have migrator ducks (canvasbacks, bluebills, buffleheads, sea ducks) hang around here in the Spring after all the rest have left. The stay behinds eventually leave, too.
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