A friend found a baby duck.... Anyone know what it is?

[DuckLady]

It is a wood duck. As Wolf Kim says, very hard to raise. They can even be frightened to death.

 

[Redsquirrel]

Looked up images of both wood and mallard chicks-wow they look so alike.
Best of luck with him/her

 

[Redsquirrel]

Just thought-do you have a wildlife rescue in your area? Perhaps they can help.

 

[Struttn1]

I think it is a woody. The bill is lighter in color than a mallard duckling bill. If you have other ducklings the same size I would be tempted to put one of them with it just so it has a companion and another ducky that might encourage it to eat and drink.

 

[RHewitt]

Heres a picture of the ones I hatched recently.

If you have some chicks you can let them show the woodie how to eat starter feed. It worked for me.

 

[adrian]

It is certainly a baby wood duck. Their facial structure looks much different from a mallard duckling's. If the baby isn't afraid of you, you likely won't have problems with scaring it to death.

 

[Feathers Acres]

wood duck, mallards down is more yellow and the bone struture is different, more fatter.

 

[Duck Keeper]

Wood ducks are wilds, therefore, need LOADS of space! Hope you have a huge enclosure and permits allowing you to take them from the wild!

Or you could get a huge fine!

 

[simmonspoultry]

If you can put one or two ducklings about the same size in with that wood duck they will teach it how to eat and drink. This is what I've done to teach my mandarins and wood ducks to eat and drink without their mother. I wouldn't worry to much about the fact that the duckling was taken from the wild. I have taken in several wood ducks and canada geese and once I rehab them, I just give them to the Dept of Wildlife so they can release them. I'm sure some game wardens may be high on their horse and could give you a hefty fine. Best of luck.