Earliest age to clip wings?

[LittleOwl]

HI everyone 99 I am after a little advice please as Kenny and Dolly are my first ducks. I had intended to get some but not this way. I took them at the age of 2 weeks from a family whose child had brought them home after buying them from a farm, apparently at a day old. Living in a small house with no yard they soon realised they weren't suitable for them, and found their way to us instead of being released into the wild to fend for themselves.

They are now around 10 weeks old. We have a new grown up house for them but they are still living close to our house where we can see them until they are fully grown (though they are looking pretty big to me as you can see from the pic taken a few minutes ago!). Kenny has just managed to fly out of his 3 foot tall pen for the second time in 3 days. My first question is, at what age can you clip their flight feathers? I am thinking they are still too young but am not sure. Otherwise we will find a way to heighten their pen now instead of a few weeks time.

Also, as I would like another 2 or 3 ducks, would now be a good time to get some, and if so should they be a similar age? I am thinking of runner ducks, and was wondering if all breeds of ducks get on together or not. Thank you for now!

 

[Marigold]

They're lovely. Could you perhaps just make a temporary cover from mesh for the top of the pen, until you can refurbish it? They would be safer that way, as if they can fly out, a fox could very easily get inside and kill them.

 

[LittleOwl]

Hi Marigold. Thanks, yes, I have done that for them this afternoon. I had a mesh on them when they were babies, and so I have done it again today. I am mostly here during the day right now and can see them through my kitchen window, and the chickens potter around them too, as well as having 2 alpacas who should be keeping foxes away, and so far so good! I am mostly worried about them disappearing off on their own though. I have read today (don't know if it is right) that I shouldn't be clipping them under 15 wks of age anyway, so it will be a higher fence, possibly electric, and a close watch for the next 5 weeks

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hiya Gorgeous babies!
They won't get their full set of flights until about 10-12 weeks, wait until the points cross across their tail, then they are fully grown.
Clipping is easy really, just cut the first ten flights off on one side.
There are lots of youtube videos that show you how it's done, but if you are unsure the first time then get your vet to show you.
You will need to clip them every year after they moot and regrow

zo
x

 

[LittleOwl]

Thank you Dorsetduckowner We watched a few youtube vids at the weekend and feel confident in doing it. That's good advice about the points crossing their tail.

Would now be a good time to introduce newbies to them of the same age, before they are older? And would any breed be suitable? I am thinking of a couple of female runner ducks, but am not sure.