Abandoned ducks

[Peas4Ducks]

Ducks are pretty cold hardy! As long as you’re providing food and making sure they have access to clean fresh water once the lake is frozen over, they should be okay. Again, predators are always a concern but they’ve made it this long. It couldn’t hurt to put out some feelers for someone who could take them and provide them with a good home, long-term.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Their only chance of avoiding a land predator is getting into open water once the lake freezes it will only be a matter of time. Surely someone around the lake would be willing to take them and care for them over winter? They can't fly they will be sitting ducks. i rescued some Muscovy from our river many years ago by the time I was able to get them there were only 2 left. They never seem to mind that they were here because they were fed and safe.

 

[GranderTheGander]

I am told that a channel across the lake does not usually freeze over completely.....I was hoping the ducks would migrate to that channel, but no luck so far. I went to a feed store and bought 3 large bags of "duck/poultry" feed and some rubber water bowls. The lake is half frozen now. The ducks waddle out to the open water and sit on the ice like it's a beach....lol. I dont know if they will survive, but I'd like to give them a few options!!

They probably will go to the channel if the lake freezes, but who will feed them there? Domestics must be fed and have available water to drink. I've seen domestics stay on ice, too, for less than a week, but that does make them more like "sitting ducks", plus they can get frostbite on their feet. (If they are Muscovy ducks, they can fly away or fly on land.) A coop in the winter when the lake is frozen is great, but do make sure it's totally predator proof, and not so airtight that the ducks can suffocate.

 

[katjm87]

Thanks for all the advice. They really seem to like there freedom. I put the coop together today down by the lake. I will take it day by day and keep my fingers crossed that they go to the channel. People have fed them there as well. The weather is supposed to turn very wintery here in the next week......

 

[Miss Lydia]

Unless someone closes them up at night doubt they will use the coop.
Plus if food is left out it will draw predators.
Most of us who have ducks know at first our ducks seem to prefer being left outside but once we train them to go inside and close them up they usually put themselves to bed. I know these aren't your ducks but there may be a rescue group that would take these ducks and find a safe home for them. Wild ducks know how to evade predators and find food over winter by migrating.

 

[katjm87]

They have never had a coop? How old are they?

No, never.

 

[katjm87]

They have never had a coop? How old are they?

They were born this past spring

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any updates on how they are doing?

 

[katjm87]

Any updates on how they are doing?

I fed them in the coop last Friday. Didnt see them at all Saturday or sunday, and in the meantime the lake in front of my house froze over. I called a friend that lives on a channel that leads to a smaller lake. She saw them Monday morning in front of her place. I took her a big bag of food to feed them if she sees them again. That is the last I heard. I am hoping for the best, but dang cold here next few day. When the ice is safe, I'm going to look around for them. I wish I could have done more!

 

[Miss Lydia]

If only there was a rescue that would take them.

@onaharley