Territorial runner ducks

[joseph110506]

We installed a 3/4 acre lake last year and rather than wait for wildlife to arrive we purchased 4 runner ducks. Unfortunately the male was killed by a stray dog getting into the grounds, so now we are left with three females. My problem is that now that the lake is more established many species of ducks are trying to settle on the lake. Only this morning I am pretty sure that I saw a pair of Mandarins, I think a Scaup or Tufted duck and Mallards , all were rather swiftly seen off by my three Runner Ducks. Other than ask for someone to take away the Runners is there anything that I can do??

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hiya Ahh you have the same problem as the previous post on here! Domestic ducks will be very territorial at this time of the year and will likely see off anything that arrives. However it's unlikely that wild ducks will settle unless there is a resource on your lake that they require such as food (do you feed them?) or nesting areas (do you have an island with dense cover?).
Its very normal for wildfowl to come and go, only staying an hour or two early morning. They will already have a home territory that they will stick to most of the time. The only way you will get wildfowl to stay is to provide a constant food source for them or to introduce them yourself, preferably from ducklings so they see that as their home. If you have domestic ducks don't get any pinioned or clipped ducks as they won't be able to escape the domestics (se previous post on this forum). If you are thinking of introducing some that you would like to stay please feel free to PM me and I can talk you through it. I only wish I could offload some of mine, I have over 100 on my lake demanding food twice a day! (I raised them from orphans over the years).
zo
x

 

[joseph110506]

Many Thanks
Very Helpful, We did install several high level boxes hoping for mandarins and we have an established floating island, I also feed copious amounts of food to the carp and the ducks. Would you know if it is possible to introduce Mandarin ducks, and if so how would you make sure that they stay, especially with the runners. (perhaps I should post this separately)
Again thanks for your informative reply
Steve

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Can you pm me x