Baby Duck Advice

[billybatz9]

Hello,

I am in need of assistance please. I am in a bit of a scenario. I was walking my dogs and all of a sudden.. *chirp* *chirp* and there she was, in my pool. The mom must have left her because no other ducks were around. I live on a lake btw. So I took her in.... 30 minutes later I came up with a plan. I brought some bread outside, started feeding ducks and there she came with her babies. So I was like "hell yeah" and brought the baby outside and gave her to the mom. She was with the other ducklings eating and stuff. I went inside and left them to it. About 20 minutes later, I come outside and hear *chirp* *chirp*. I saw the little baby duck swimming by itself in the lake near my lawn (poor thing). The mom and other babies left and was really far away. I can tell she was going to be left stranded. I got my pool net and scooped her up. Now, you all know where I stand I am housing a baby duck in my garage right now. Everything is setup, but what do I do with light situation?

I am a reptile enthusiast. I dont have duck feed. I fed her two tiny pieces of bread and 2 crickets. Idk what they can eat, but she loves the crickets lol. I researched and read that she needs duck feed, but I dont live anywhere near a farm or tractor store, so I am kinda screwed.

 

[billybatz9]

No.... I wont feed her to any reptiles. Just clearing that up now, before I get comments I actually dont own snakes because I wouldnt be able to feed an animal to another animal.

 

[mymoneypit]

You don't say what kind of critters you keep, but crushed Turtle pellets would be better than bread, pellet fish food also, until you can find some chick starter. Do you live near any farms?

Do you have an extra heat lamp? You could in theory keep a single duckling in a tank with heat lamp on one end, put a towel in the bottom and watch the temp. Without seeing a pic we can't really guess the baby's age. Give baby a stuffed toy and prop up a mirror in there too.

 

[chickenperson77]

Don't feed the ducking bread it can kill them. :/ but

 

[chickenperson77]

And make sure you keep it warm.
I'm not sure what you can feed them except feed. Sorry

 

[subhanalah]

First of all, give it some small grit, ASAP. This is so it can break down and digest the bread you gave it. You can use washed sand or purchase chick grit. If you have gravely soil, this will work as well.

You can feed hard boiled or scrambled eggs broken up into small crumbles.

You can order from mazuri.com waterfowl feed. This is also a good place for other exotic animal feeds, such as crested geckos or tortoises. This is where I get my rodent chow, but be careful there are no chemicals in the ingredients list such as BHT, BHA or ethyoxiquine as these are poisonous preservatives, and really shouldn't be in pet food to begin with.

 

[billybatz9]

This is him. He's really young. Has tiny wings.
No bread, got it. Ugh this is rough. Idk how they survive in the wild.

 

[billybatz9]

First of all, give it some small grit, ASAP. This is so it can break down and digest the bread you gave it. You can use washed sand or purchase chick grit. If you have gravely soil, this will work as well.

You can feed hard boiled or scrambled eggs broken up into small crumbles.

You can order from mazuri.com waterfowl feed. This is also a good place for other exotic animal feeds, such as crested geckos or tortoises. This is where I get my rodent chow, but be careful there are no chemicals in the ingredients list such as BHT, BHA or ethyoxiquine as these are poisonous preservatives, and really shouldn't be in pet food to begin with.

Feed it washed sand?
By the way, how are crickets for them? She seemed to like them and eat them.

 

[Ren2014]

First of all, give it some small grit, ASAP. This is so it can break down and digest the bread you gave it. You can use washed sand or purchase chick grit. If you have gravely soil, this will work as well.

You can feed hard boiled or scrambled eggs broken up into small crumbles.

You can order from mazuri.com waterfowl feed. This is also a good place for other exotic animal feeds, such as crested geckos or tortoises. This is where I get my rodent chow, but be careful there are no chemicals in the ingredients list such as BHT, BHA or ethyoxiquine as these are poisonous preservatives, and really shouldn't be in pet food to begin with.

x2 you've got to get some grit in it so it can digest all of the things you are feeding it. The grit, ex. wash sand, breaks down the food so they can digest it. Also, make sure it has fresh water. Ducks need water to eat and to wash their eyes and nostrils. Make sure it can dip it's head in the water. Ducks that young with out a mom around shouldn't be allowed to swim. Their feathers are not yet water proof and they could drown. Keep in mind the mom may have abandoned it because there is something wrong with it. I hope this isn't the case and wish you lots of luck.

Welcome to BYC! It is so kind of you to take the little one in

 

[Miss Lydia]

Feed it washed sand?
By the way, how are crickets for them? She seemed to like them and eat them.

Put a small bowl of sand next to the feed not just feed it sand, or go to the grocery store and look in the pet bird isle they have grit for caged birds you can offer that to the lil one . the temp in the brooder needs to be about 85 then each week there after drop the temp 5* Be sure as the rest have said that it has a bowl of water deep enough to dunk it's head into.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711 this link also has a pic of very simple waterer for ducklings that they can dunk their heads into but can't climb into and drown.