I think he may have been sick. This morning around 8 he stopped clicking and shaking and was running around all normal, pooping, peeping, so I was flooded with relief maybe I overreacted. He still wouldn't eat or touch his water, but after that scare I wasn't going to try again. So I went to the store to get some veggies because I read baby ducks might like carrots and kale shredded in their mash feed and when I cameback he had passed away on his side.
I read online on so many sources they know how to eat and drink right after hatching and he just had NO interest in anything. I have lizards so I even tried seeing if he'd chase a mealworm and he wouldn't even look at it. I tried a shallow bowl with water instead of a chicken waterer, still nothing. I tried putting mash on his bill and he'd just shake it off. I had a mirror and a baby duck sized plush animal with him and wouldn't acknowledge they were there. I put him on the floor thinking maybe he hated his enclosure and he just walked around aimlessly, wouldn't hide, just walked.
He would jump around everywhere, he loved jumping. He jumped on me, he jumped on my phone when I'd try taking pictures, he just loved to jump.
I hate that I stressed him out last night, I was just scared he was dehydrated and when I had previous baby ducks, to show them where the water is we'd dip their bills in it, my parents even did this when I was a child with ducklings. Never have we had an issue such as this and I'm in tears thinking I may have just killed him. He was so sweet and innocent with a rough start at life, and he didn't even get to live. I called my dad and told him what's happened and he thinks Argo was sick in the first place, probably why he was abandoned. Maybe Dad was just trying to make me feel better, I don't know. I'm so sorry guys, I feel like the most inexperienced duck owner right now and I've raised them myself for six years. I'm so sorry
