Baby Duckling - Newbie and need help giving it a fighting chance

[CaliFarmsAR]

Yip he is eating a lot. Prefers to eat if I place him in a bowl of warm water big enough for him to wade around and fish his food out the water

@MGG

 

[MGG]

My baby duckling still has its egg tooth on-top of its bill, I think it is 4-5 days old but not sure. It arrived yesterday in the cats mouth .

Welcome to BYC! You need to check it over very well for injuries from the cat. Cats' mouths can spread all sorts of nasty bacterias to birds.

Any idea on its age? It has no hard feathers (all down) and tiny little wings.

Can you post pics of it please? I'm sure it's only a day or two old. It's important to figure out what breed it is, so I can give you more breed-specific advice.

I have set it up with a towel (which I change daily) and a heating pad which we have set to 26 Degrees Celcius (it can move away from the pad if it gets too hot).

Ok...how do you have the heating pad in there? It should be over a wire scrap (frame) and bent into a cave. Like this.

Turn the heating pad to high, and then cover it with a towel. And now you have an excellent heat source. It should be low enough on one side that it gets really warm, but arched a bit on the other side so it's warm but not hot. He can always come out if he wants, too.

This morning I made it my mission to work out how to get it happy and eating as its very strong and lively so i believe it has a fighting chance. It has already bonded with me and loves to sleep on me and chirps a

That's good. He sounds very sweet.

I thought I would try and replicate the sink in the ducklings box (safe space away from the cats) in a shallower smaller bowl which it seems to love, it is

Oh, that is not a good idea. Ducklings should never ever have access to that much water as babies. Ducklings that are under 2 or 3 weeks old should not even be allowed to swim. They can get waterlogged and drown so fast. In the time that you turn your back they can die. Unless it's a diving breed, it should not have access to water. The oil gland is not yet working, so it has no way to waterproof itself. It's just not safe.

I filled a sink up a little with some warm water (standing depth) and popped the duckling in, it loved it! Then I added some finely chopped up lettuce and parsley and it loved it! I then tried sprinkling some chicken starter feed in the water and it ate that too.

That's good that he's eating at least.

How long can I leave the wet food in there before it is not safe to eat?

Well, if it's not under a heat source where it's getting hot, maybe half a day or so. I would change it out two times a day. Don't make up big batches at once, just what the duckling will eat.

Realistically how much feed does the duckling need daily? I want to be able to tell if it is eating enough?

It really varies based on what breed and how old.

I have not seen it poop since it arrived?

Has it pooped yet? It should be pooping. How does it's vent look? Does it have poop stuck on it?

If you can get us pics and make the heating pad cave, that would be great.
And I 100% agree with what Miss Lydia had to say.

 

[MGG]

@MGG

Thanks for the tag.

 

[Miss Lydia]

At the age they are now including the chicks. Free feeding is best. I've never seen a chick or duckling over eat so just keep feed out for them 24/7 and offer the wet 3X a day like you said. Glad to hear you have spoken to a rehabber.
Never asked what breed of duck?

 

[Jen Denton]

Welcome to BYC! You need to check it over very well for injuries from the cat. Cats' mouths can spread all sorts of nasty bacterias to birds.

Can you post pics of it please? I'm sure it's only a day or two old. It's important to figure out what breed it is, so I can give you more breed-specific advice.

Ok...how do you have the heating pad in there? It should be over a wire scrap (frame) and bent into a cave. Like this. View attachment 2603576View attachment 2603577
Turn the heating pad to high, and then cover it with a towel. And now you have an excellent heat source. It should be low enough on one side that it gets really warm, but arched a bit on the other side so it's warm but not hot. He can always come out if he wants, too.

That's good. He sounds very sweet.

Oh, that is not a good idea. Ducklings should never ever have access to that much water as babies. Ducklings that are under 2 or 3 weeks old should not even be allowed to swim. They can get waterlogged and drown so fast. In the time that you turn your back they can die. Unless it's a diving breed, it should not have access to water. The oil gland is not yet working, so it has no way to waterproof itself. It's just not safe.

That's good that he's eating at least.

Well, if it's not under a heat source where it's getting hot, maybe half a day or so. I would change it out two times a day. Don't make up big batches at once, just what the duckling will eat.

It really varies based on what breed and how old.

Has it pooped yet? It should be pooping. How does it's vent look? Does it have poop stuck on it?

If you can get us pics and make the heating pad cave, that would be great.
And I 100% agree with what Miss Lydia had to say.

Hi, no injuries from the cat. My father in law whom i live with is a vet so we have checked him over

I think he/she is 4 days old as he had his egg tooth still yesterday evening and I have just noticed it is no longer there. We have contacted wildlife and bird specialists and it is a White Faced Whistling Duck

The heating pad is down the one side of the box with a towel on the bottom, he/she is very happy and comfortable. Sometimes snuggles up to the heating pad but most of the time doesn't. I also pop the box where it can get some sunlight in the day through the window so he/she has natural warmth. But not for long as don't want to overheat him/her. The box is on my desk so I am monitoring him/her most of the day.

He/she is so happy with its two new chick friends and had definitely grown and progresses with its natural instincts and skills Today he/she has been diving to the bottom of the bowl to retrieve food off the bottom and has been filter feeding through the water nicely. It is a diving breed and is proficient in swimming and water, I allow him/her to swim under supervision three times a day for 40minutes at a time. However the water is not too deep that he/she can't put his/her feet down and stand if he/she doesn't want to. It absolutely loves fishing greens off the surface, filtering the water and diving down to the bottom for food. It is incredible to watch.

Thank you, I have removed the big water bowl and just put in a little one, especially now since there are two chicks in with it. I am changing out the wet food, water bowl and towel twice a day at least so to keep it all clean and dry.

He is eating and drinking like a machine and poops are all looking normal and coming through now quickly after eating/drinking.

Here is a photo of him/her now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Precious Well if it had to be picked up by a cat, it sure couldn't have been dropped off at a better place.

 

[MGG]

Hi, no injuries from the cat. My father in law whom i live with is a vet so we have checked him over

I think he/she is 4 days old as he had his egg tooth still yesterday evening and I have just noticed it is no longer there. We have contacted wildlife and bird specialists and it is a White Faced Whistling Duck

The heating pad is down the one side of the box with a towel on the bottom, he/she is very happy and comfortable. Sometimes snuggles up to the heating pad but most of the time doesn't. I also pop the box where it can get some sunlight in the day through the window so he/she has natural warmth. But not for long as don't want to overheat him/her. The box is on my desk so I am monitoring him/her most of the day.

He/she is so happy with its two new chick friends and had definitely grown and progresses with its natural instincts and skills Today he/she has been diving to the bottom of the bowl to retrieve food off the bottom and has been filter feeding through the water nicely. It is a diving breed and is proficient in swimming and water, I allow him/her to swim under supervision three times a day for 40minutes at a time. However the water is not too deep that he/she can't put his/her feet down and stand if he/she doesn't want to. It absolutely loves fishing greens off the surface, filtering the water and diving down to the bottom for food. It is incredible to watch.

Thank you, I have removed the big water bowl and just put in a little one, especially now since there are two chicks in with it. I am changing out the wet food, water bowl and towel twice a day at least so to keep it all clean and dry.

He is eating and drinking like a machine and poops are all looking normal and coming through now quickly after eating/drinking.

Here is a photo of him/her now. View attachment 2604859

Awww! Ok. Well, it sounds like it's doing great then! I'm glad!!!

 

[Jen Denton]

Hi Everyone,

Great News Baby duckling is doing well and is now 5 weeks old and getting adult feathers. We went for our first walk down to and swim in the dam! Proud Mama right here! Baby Duck was feeding and swimming and sunning and grooming all wonderfully. The instincts are incredible.

Anyway, I have just finished the bag of Starter Feed and wanted to know what is next grower or finisher? I have no idea which feed he/she needs to be on next.

Out of interest, it has turned out to be a White Faced Whistling Duck and its instincts are incredible, once it is ready to leave Mama Duck I am sure it will head off into the wild and find a mate! Just so excited!

Thanks for all your help!

Here is a picture of him/her yesterday!

 

[Stipenvlerk]

Hi Everyone,

Great News Baby duckling is doing well and is now 5 weeks old and getting adult feathers. We went for our first walk down to and swim in the dam! Proud Mama right here! Baby Duck was feeding and swimming and sunning and grooming all wonderfully. The instincts are incredible.

Anyway, I have just finished the bag of Starter Feed and wanted to know what is next grower or finisher? I have no idea which feed he/she needs to be on next.

Out of interest, it has turned out to be a White Faced Whistling Duck and its instincts are incredible, once it is ready to leave Mama Duck I am sure it will head off into the wild and find a mate! Just so excited!

Thanks for all your help!

Here is a picture of him/her yesterday!

Maybe it will visit you now and than..
Great job! beautiful duckling

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

I switched to an all flock with about 17 percent protein after mine went off starter. Not sure that is ideal for a wild bird but I think finisher is designed for meat birds, I could b way off base though.