Sick Duckling? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

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Julianna123

Julianna123

Chirping
5 Years
Jan 13, 2015
123
2
51
Miami FL
Soo hi!!!! I'm new:3 I mainly joined cuz I was a bit worried about my new baby duck:( I found a day old duckling swimming around by himself. I took him in and he is now 6 days old. I love him a lot! I noticed when he first came, that he had quite the appetite! He seemed very healthy until today... Today he started acting more lethargic:O I went about eating and drinking but for his morning swim (which he usually loves) he just floated there. And when I placed him on the grass, instead of following me he just sat there. I placed a heating lamp and he seems to enjoy it. He's been napping there ALL day! He is usually very active
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Ive been feeding him watered down oats and crushed boiled egg. I added some sugar water instead of normal water and he seems a tiny tiny bit more active. But he barely walks:( please help!!!
 
Welcome to BYC!

You may consider getting some unmedicated chick feed for the little guy. Also, when you let him swim are you drying him off well? Is there any injury you can see?

I really hope your duckling pulls through. Any chance you could get him a friend? They're very social animals and can easily get depressed without one.
 
Thank you!!!! I added a heater lamp and he seems fully dried but he still seems a bit wet under the neck.... No injury as far as I can tell. Thank you:) I hope so as well. This evening I'm going to go see if I could find a lone duckling in my canal ( a lot of abandonment issues lately with mother ducks...) as a friend. Thanks again!
 
Where are you from (if you don't mind my asking) that you find these duckling abandoned?

Keep in mind there may be a reason to the mothers madness. Maybe she knew something wasn't right. But at the same time he could just need a boost.

Do you keep the lamp on? If you can, grab a thermometer and set it on the bottom of your brooder. Set the light so its roughly 85 degrees, but angle it in a way that the duckling can get away from the heat if it wants to.
 
And go to Tractor Supply and buy a small bag of un medicated chick feed, feeding just watered down oats and boiled egg isn't enough for a young duckling. Please keep us updated on how the little is doing and Welcome. BayBay Peepers is right on all counts.
 
Thank you all very much for the advice:)
Bay bay Peepers: I live in Florida ( Miami) and have a canal set into my backyard. It is extremely strange that a mother would do his because usually when I find ducklings is it cause they strayed from their mother. In this cases that morning I had seen the mother with four ducklings which I fiund unusual because it's kinda early for breeding season. She had four ducklings. That afternoon the entire litter was scattered everywhere and the mother was with another male. I daughter only one duckling ( mine) and tried to reunite it w/ it's mom. My duckling ran to here but she pecked and then ignored him:( I'm 100% that was his mom. So I took him home. I already have done the thermometer thing and gave him half of his aquarium in the shade. Thanks:)

Miss Lydia: as a matter of fact right this morning I'm heading to a feed supply store to buy him NONmedicated chick feed:) will do and thanks!


Amiga: I went ahead and took your advice by reading the posts:) very helpful!! Thank you! sounds good
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Update: my little duck seems much better today and enjoys the heat lamp very much:) I'm not sure what I would have done without your advice (all of you) thanks soooo much for your help!!!!



One more question: do you think I could keep a chick ( baby) and my little duck together for some company? I think hey would enjoy each other but not sure (both less than 1 week old)





THANKS!!!!!
 
Julianna123 said:
Thank you all very much for the advice:)
Bay bay Peepers: I live in Florida ( Miami) and have a canal set into my backyard. It is extremely strange that a mother would do his because usually when I find ducklings is it cause they strayed from their mother. In this cases that morning I had seen the mother with four ducklings which I fiund unusual because it's kinda early for breeding season. She had four ducklings. That afternoon the entire litter was scattered everywhere and the mother was with another male. I daughter only one duckling ( mine) and tried to reunite it w/ it's mom. My duckling ran to here but she pecked and then ignored him:( I'm 100% that was his mom. So I took him home. I already have done the thermometer thing and gave him half of his aquarium in the shade. Thanks:)

Miss Lydia: as a matter of fact right this morning I'm heading to a feed supply store to buy him NONmedicated chick feed:) will do and thanks!


Amiga: I went ahead and took your advice by reading the posts:) very helpful!! Thank you! sounds good
1f44c.png





Update: my little duck seems much better today and enjoys the heat lamp very much:) I'm not sure what I would have done without your advice (all of you) thanks soooo much for your help!!!!



One more question: do you think I could keep a chick ( baby) and my little duck together for some company? I think hey would enjoy each other but not sure (both less than 1 week old)





THANKS!!!!!
Click to expand...
Since less than a week old it may work only problem ducklings are very messy with their water and chick may get wet and chilled which wouldn't be good. So you need to take that into consideration. Others have done it though. Glad to hear your lil one is doing better, keep us updated please. since you live in FL maybe you can find a duckling at a feed store?? around the same age. I have Muscovy's and can tell you they really like the company of another duckling.
 
That's true... Hmmmm maybe your right:) and thanks:) I do hope I find another duck at the feed store, that would be amazing!
 

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