2 wk-old mallard orphan

[RachG75]

I am so afraid the WH ducklings or the fully grown Pekin females are going to kill that little baby!?!?! Are you saying I should just put the WH and the Mallard together? They grab on to her like she's a little rag doll. She's only the size they were at one week. The people I got it from said they kept it for 2 weeks. I don't see how that could be true because it is super-tiny. Of course, they never used a heat lamp and were feeding it the wrong food without any extra niacin...

 

[chickens really]

If they are all different ages then you will have to slowly introduce them through fences...

 

[Miss Lydia]

You just don't want any one getting seriously injure in the process if your WH are a lot bigger and older.

Through fencing till the lil Mallard is bigger.

 

[Chelsea Napier]

Our local pet store just called me and told me there was a couple looking for a home for a (probably a mallard) duckling they have been raising that was (they think) orphaned. They have been taking care of the duckling for 2 weeks already, but they are realizing the amount of work and space needed for a duck...you all know this story! Anyway, I am already raising 2 3.5-wk-old welsh harlequins. What's one more duckling when I'm already doing the work, right?

My question is, I read that some say or think it is illegal to take eggs or a duckling...well, I didn't do either, am I okay to take this duckling? AND, can I COUNT on it to fly away this fall? I don't really want it to stay, but is that really a death sentence? We live on a lake...I'm sure it will learn to forage with my other ducks, including 2 older Pekins...maybe nature's call down to the lake will be enough?

I know there are probably other threads about this, but the search is only coming back with 2? I'm still trying figure out this new website...

So I found a baby marlland out back of my house all alone I looked for its mother and could find her or any other babies so I picked up so the dogs didnt get it really need some help I dont know how old it is or the right way to care for it and it can only open one eye but there is no mark by the eye

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does the duckling look like a new hatchling? It needs to be warm around 85* if a week old or younger. Heating pad or some type of heat lamp will work but cover the heating pad with a towel and you'll need to have a thermometer to keep tabs on temp in a brooder it can be a box or plastic container. Put old clean towel down for the duckling to be on slick things like newspaper is not good for their legs and can cause them to get spraddle leg. Here is some info on caring for ducklings https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/duckling-care-brooder-ideas.64854/

Since this is a wild duck try and contact a wild life rehabber and see if they will take it. It's actually against the law for us to remove any wild birds from the wild but goodness what can you do when you see one in need, But contacting a wild life rehabber will help.

You could try using a soft cloth and some nice warm water with a lil salt in it to clean the eye so you can see if there is an injury to the eye ball.

 

[Chelsea Napier]

Does the duckling look like a new hatchling? It needs to be warm around 85* if a week old or younger. Heating pad or some type of heat lamp will work but cover the heating pad with a towel and you'll need to have a thermometer to keep tabs on temp in a brooder it can be a box or plastic container. Put old clean towel down for the duckling to be on slick things like newspaper is not good for their legs and can cause them to get spraddle leg. Here is some info on caring for ducklings https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/duckling-care-brooder-ideas.64854/

Since this is a wild duck try and contact a wild life rehabber and see if they will take it. It's actually against the law for us to remove any wild birds from the wild but goodness what can you do when you see one in need, But contacting a wild life rehabber will help.

You could try using a soft cloth and some nice warm water with a lil salt in it to clean the eye so you can see if there is an injury to the eye ball.

How do I tell how old it is and right now I dont have heat lamp or pad and I can't see nothing wrong with its eye and what would the wildlife rehabber do with it I all ready feel so bad I couldnt find its mom I am a strong believer wildlife should stay in the wild but I couldn't just let the poor thing die so many dogs around here they would of got it what do they eat should I be holding it every time I put it in the box he jumps trying to get out but when I pick it up he is fine sorry for so many ?

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's probably in the first week stage just guessing or may have just been hatched and mom left and it for some reason didn't follow her and the rest. Wild life rehabbers will care for the duckling and release it into the wild once it is old enough to go. Difference being they won't be as hands on as us, now it will imprint on you and you'll be it's mommie. And believe me I would have done the very same thing we can't just walk away when we see an animal in need. Heat lamps can be found at feed stores and pet shops heat bulbs you'll need at least a 100 watt the kind that are red. Or go and get a reptile heat emitter from a pet store and they will have the safer lamps to use with the bulb. They need either duckling starter or chick starter found at all feed stores Tractor Supply if you have one close by. For now if you have a lamp you could use it over what ever your keeping the duckling in 75-100 watt only thing is they aren't good to use full
time because it is disruptive to their sleep.

They need water and feed together never feed alone.