Duckling

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missmatch

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This evening I found a baby duckling. Looked all over for mum or siblings and nothing He is tiny, probably only a couple of days old. He was just running back and forth across a road through a village. I have an electric hen, a hot water bottle and chick crumb but I am very worried he will not make it. Does anyone have any ideas please? x
 
They never tend to do too well on their own IME :( Is there a local duck/chick breeder or rescue place that might have other friends for him?

Other than that, just try and keep him quiet and warm. Fingers crossed for the little fella x
 
Where abouts are you? If you're close to me (Milton Keynes) look for Ark Wildlife on facebook, they might be able to help. She did a fab job with my swans.
 
um difficult I have had two and they fully survived as they had each other, but only just. I think a singleton you will have a bit of a problem and will be lucky if it survives.
Just be aware that ducklings can jump out of quite deep boxes and are very fast if they want to be.

I would keep it warm, chick crumbs as you have done already and yes a shallow bowl of water ie a lowish plate. Dont over heat it though they are quite tough after about 5-6 days.

If you try to reintigrate it with another mother duck or any other duck they will kill it.

Sounds like you are doing the right things. They tend not to eat a lot for a couple of days and will move onto layers pellets even with that tiny bill.


IF it survives it will be about 7 weeks to maturity. I am happy to take it off you but I dont know where you are I am in Herts. You can pm me(I have tons of wild mallards in my garden and a very safe deep pond)plus loads of ducklings at the moment. They are so stupid! But good luck.
 
Thank you all for the replies :) I have tried a broody hen but she wasnt interested at all. little duckling just curled under her wing to go to sleep but she didnt want him there.
I am in Northamptonshire so I will look for Ark as not too far. I have ducks and chickens in the garden but my ducks are male so no use to this little one. At the minute hes curled up in my husbands top fast asleep bless him Will try to post a pic of him in a minute as hes super cute x
 
Depends whereabouts you are but there are RSPCA wildlife centres in certain areas of the country. They usually have duckling 'nurseries' where all the little orphans will live and play together to be raised before they are returned to the wild (it's very cute!!:)). I don't know whereabouts you are so can't help as to which one is closest but if you give the main number a ring on 03001234999 they can put it through to an officer to collect.

The main thing is not to let it get too cold - don't let it get into large amounts of water for too long - just give it a small tub of water (not big enough to get into - just to drink from) and lots of snuggly things to sleep in - towels/soft toys etc etc. Grass chopped up is good to feed them too as they peck on this in the wild.

Unfortunately ducklings do give up the ghost quite quickly, particularly if they get chilled, so the sooner you can get him somewhere where he can cuddle up to the others and have specialist care the better!
 
If you are in north northamptonshire, I could take him. We have a rescued duckling in with a rescued gosling at the moment. They are doing fine.
 
Thank you Nah I have sent a friend request to them x Wildwhippet I think we are South Northamptonshire - we are out towards Welford/Naseby way
 
I have raised many lone orphaned ducklings, all made it. :) It's very important you give them a small bowl of water in which you place a stone which almost fills the bowl. This leaves them with just a rim of water to dabble in but they can't sit in the water.

If they sit in the water, without Mum to keep them moving, they die of cold. :(

Try to avoid letting the little chap "imprint" on you, it will make it easy for him/her to make it back to the wild later.

I used to work for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, plus I have a sister who's an expert in raising endangered species of water fowl. :)
 
missmatch said:
This evening I found a baby duckling. Looked all over for mum or siblings and nothing He is tiny, probably only a couple of days old. He was just running back and forth across a road through a village. I have an electric hen, a hot water bottle and chick crumb but I am very worried he will not make it. Does anyone have any ideas please? x
Click to expand...
What is an electric hen?
 
Miss L Toe said:
What is an electric hen?
Click to expand...

Its like a little heat lamp that they go under to keep warm x

Well, he made it through the night and was running around demanding attention this morning :) Fingers crossed he will keep going. I have made him a "nest" of a bobbly hat and a hot water bottle - he seems to really like being in there
 
missmatch said:
Well, he made it through the night and was running around demanding attention this morning :) Fingers crossed he will keep going. I have made him a "nest" of a bobbly hat and a hot water bottle - he seems to really like being in there
Click to expand...

Fingers crossed here for the little guy... :)
 
missmatch said:
Well, he made it through the night and was running around demanding attention this morning :) Fingers crossed he will keep going. I have made him a "nest" of a bobbly hat and a hot water bottle - he seems to really like being in there
Click to expand...

That made me feel all smiley inside :D
Keeping everything crossed for the little chap
 
Well, not sure if you want the updates or not :o but the duckling has made it through another night :D He is such a baby and is really active still. Hes still working on the filter feeding and you have never seen such mess :eek: We are all so stupidly pleased to come down in the morning and find him happy and alive!!! He uis in a pen in the living room to keep him warm and safe so he really has a life of luxury at the minute x
 
important - make sure any chick crumbs you get are for waterfowl or if they are for poultry make sure they are the organic ones as the non organic poultry chick crumbs contain an anti-coccidostat treatment which is POISONOUS to waterfowl and might kill little duckling!!

check at the shop

if you cant get any then find someone with a coffee blender and grind up some plain whole wheat (available from agric merchants)
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
important - make sure any chick crumbs you get are for waterfowl or if they are for poultry make sure they are the organic ones as the non organic poultry chick crumbs contain an anti-coccidostat treatment which is POISONOUS to waterfowl and might kill little duckling!!

check at the shop

if you cant get any then find someone with a coffee blender and grind up some plain whole wheat (available from agric merchants)
Click to expand...

He is on proper duck feed - My friend is a poultry/waterfowl breeder and he gave me the correct food and also lent me one of his electric hens. Its funny have had so many people ask about this little duckling - Its almost like everyone is willing him to make it :)
 
missmatch said:
He is on proper duck feed - My friend is a poultry/waterfowl breeder and he gave me the correct food and also lent me one of his electric hens. Its funny have had so many people ask about this little duckling - Its almost like everyone is willing him to make it :)
Click to expand...

That's fantastic news about the feed, it isnt ever made clear on the packets of poultry feed, but clearly everything is going very well and you have good knowledgeable support :-) best of luck with Daffy :-D
 
We found a duckling in one of our paddocks, took him into the shed and started deliberating about what to do with the little critter when OH looked up the field and coming over the hill was its mother and 10 other ducklings. So we ran up and returned him, glad we had the chance to do this. Such a shame when they lose their mums :(
 
missmatch said:
Well, not sure if you want the updates or not :o but the duckling has made it through another night :D He is such a baby and is really active still. Hes still working on the filter feeding and you have never seen such mess :eek: We are all so stupidly pleased to come down in the morning and find him happy and alive!!! He uis in a pen in the living room to keep him warm and safe so he really has a life of luxury at the minute x
Click to expand...

Errr...of course!! :D *cough* photos *cough* :D

Good to hear he's doing ok... Must be quite an amusing and cute house guest... :)
 
Upload a photo to Photobucket or another photo storage place... Click the Direct Link box below the photo and then paste that into the box that pops up when you click on the little picture above this text area when writing a message...

If the photo is too large, you can use the edit facility when you hover over a photo in PB - choose resize, choose percentage and reduce by 75 or 50% or whatever and save & replace the original - it'll resize automatically on here then...:-)
 
Well done you and I hope he is a she! He will now be properly imprinted on you and tbh will always think he is human and will probably always be terrified of ducks. You need to teach him to swim, they can only learn when they are young or they are scared. Just a tepid washing up bowl and pop him in, not for very long to start with and then let him warm up. When I taught mine last year I started with shallow water so they could stand. In a few days he will want his own swimming pool.
 
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/79890260@N02/7322625752/" title="IMG_0782 by misskittygalore, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/7322625752_aedc1a8183.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_0782"></a>
 
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