My husband and I just found a duckling in our backyard....we are about half a mile from a pond. We have NO idea how he got here. My husband had just sprayed flea and tick killer in the lawn and some DID get on the duckling. We washed him with warm water and dawn soap. But, what NOW?! Food? Heat? I am clueless...
2007-05-17 14:07:33 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
Try feeding it raw fish or grasshopers,crickets,bread, any kind of bug will work. Worms will also.You can also buy duck food at feed stores for chickens,ducks,horses,cows,etc. Be sure to keep the duck under a heat lanp for about a month depending on how cold it is where you live.
2007-05-17 14:46:00 · answer #1 · answered by Codyboy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The mother would LOVE to have this duckling back. If she is alive. Baby ducks are precocial - meaning they hatch, stand up and start being ducks. Not like robins or sparrows who are altricial - need heat, fed by mom, etc.
Bread crumbs is never a good food. Puppy chow will work until you either get her home or buy duck food. Good Luck.
PS - duck is not that good to eat. Not much meat.
2007-05-17 15:10:19 · answer #2 · answered by Owlwoman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
DO NOT give bread crumbs soaked in water that causes diarrhea and poor development. Put the little guy on a heating pad with a feather duster nearby. Ducks are social, and without other ducks they often die of depression. You need to get him to a wildlife rehabilitator ASAP. Your local vet or animal shelter can point you in the right direction.
For food small pieces of greens will suffice until you can get to a rehabber. And only provide a shallow dish of water, young ducks have not yet developed their oil glands and will get too cold too fast, and often die if they get to wet.
2007-05-17 14:18:38 · answer #3 · answered by jocelynhallet 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check with your local wildlife control first thing in the morning. They're the experts and will be able to advise you about feeding, reuniting with mom (if possible) and how to deal with residue from the poison. Many wildlife rescues take babies that are lost/abandoned.
I'm a little concerned about the Dawn, as those products strip all the oils from the feathers (and whatever else they touch). BUT I know it was well intentioned and that your intent was to remove the poisons, which it probably did help with. I'm sure you'll mention that to wildlife control when you call them. Be sure the baby is warm tonight. I had a housemate who found a baby lovebird once and against my strong objections (it almost came to blows) she kept him in a box in her very cold room overnight, of course it died.
2007-05-17 15:24:54 · answer #4 · answered by heart o' gold 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This all depend on the age of the dukling.
good cahnce if the mom is anywhere around she woun't esxcept it back.
there is duk food you can buy.
but for now I would give it some bread crumbs soaked in water.
they should be under a heat lamp at least until all there feathers are in.
You should call a vet and see if there are any rehabers or wild animal rescues that know more of how and what to do for this little babe.
Good luck
2007-05-17 14:14:02 · answer #5 · answered by Kit_kat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have a pond out back of our house. My neighbor and I put down cracked corn for the ducks and the baby's.
Once the Easter Bunny gave my kids 2 baby ducks LOL
We fed them cracked corn and a pet store had duck feed.
I kept them in the house when it was cold out in a dog carrier. They are very dirty and smelly.
Once it got warmer out I put them in a dog run that was in a fenced in yard. I was afraid coyotes would eat them. We had a small kids pool that we filled with water and had to use a board as a ramp for them to walk in and out of it.
Turned out these were Peking ducks and would never fly. So we couldn't let them go in a lake when they got big. We had to find a farm to take them.
If the is is a wild duck I would be concerned that feeding it will not teach it to forage for itself. You might want to call your local animal control. They would be able to lead you in the right direction. Some kind of wild life refuge or something will work.
Good Luck
2007-05-17 14:22:03 · answer #6 · answered by Fur kids and all 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'd suggest just calling the vet and see what he has to say, he'll most likely give you ingredients to make to feed the duckling or if theres a wildlife rehabilitation center nearby you could take it there. as for heat, if you have to take care of it you can get a bulb somehow into wherever you're keeping it and let it stay about maybe 9 inches away from the ground. you dont want them to get too hot or they may die but you also want to put hay or dry grass in there as well to nest in.
2007-05-17 14:17:25 · answer #7 · answered by Courtnub 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
feed stores like Tractor Supply or local ones sell duckling feed/ id keep it warm with a heat lamp or space heater/ lots of water . ive kept one in the bath tub with a blanket at one end and a small puddle at the faucet end. if you cant get to a feed store maybe even walmart, id feed whole grain bread crumbs/ if you find the mom it might take it back \their not like wild birds good luck
2007-05-17 14:19:26 · answer #8 · answered by Haley 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The food aspect may depend on the age of the duckling. Consult your local Agway re: food. I think it's a safe bet you should keep it warm. Don't expect it to be able to swim until it can produce oils for its feathers.
2007-05-17 14:18:31 · answer #9 · answered by Sels 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
at the food/ heat part I got an idea
so u should eat the duckling as food and make sure u heat it up well
(thats what any hunter like me would do)
2007-05-17 14:12:28 · answer #10 · answered by yoy y 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋