Baby duckling newbie help!

[Debs Flock]

look for a breed of comparable size if you do this. At just over a month old my mallards are the same size as my full grown wood duck.

So a Call duck, maybe?

 

[Lilki]

We rescued a 3 day old mallard about a week ago. It had been stuck in the mud. It didn't eat for about 5 hrs. I'm not sure which of these things got it to eat but something worked: I mixed the chick food with water so it turned into a mash. Then I stuck my fingers in it and "nibbled" it. The poor guy caught on and turned into an eating machine.

Our biggest mistake at first was that we weren't keeping it warm enough. Once we got the heat light adjusted he was quite happy.

 

[attimus]

So a Call duck, maybe?

they look reasonable and cheap in comparison to a wood duckling.

We rescued a 3 day old mallard about a week ago.  It had been stuck in the mud.  It didn't eat for about 5 hrs.  I'm not sure which of these things got it to eat but something worked:  I mixed the chick food with water so it turned into a mash.  Then I stuck my fingers in it and "nibbled" it.  The poor guy caught on and turned into an eating machine.  

Our biggest mistake at first was that we weren't keeping it warm enough.  Once we got the heat light adjusted he was quite happy.

good advice about the mash and temp being proper is crucial at that age.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok I had to switch to desktop mode. Hope it worked now!

I'm thinking maybe a Wood Duck duckling

I'd go here and ask what the ornamental thread thinks these ducklings a quite different than domestic ducklings. https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/46/ornamental-fowl-swans-etc @dyzired

 

[attimus]

When she was little

Growing up

And the big girl

 

[The Duck Ladie]

When she was little

Growing up

And the big girl

What a sweetie!

 

[attimus]

@dyzired any update to the duckling?

 

[dyzired]

Hello everyone! Okay, so we tried the suggestion someone made about whistling to him and nibbling at the food and that definitely made him more interested. I even tried playing the video of the baby wood ducks chirping and he went crazy for that again. But ended up taking off out of my boyfriends hands again. He has some serious speed lol

Last night I was feeling hopeless because he really hasnt eaten much (atleast in front of me),so I decided to try one more thing.

I cleaned out my bathroom sink, and filled it with water maybe 2 inches. And I put him in there, and put my hand in the water so he could sort of perch on my fingers...and then put some soaked chick Starter on my Palm and used my finger to kind of pick some up and offer it...and he started to eat some! Then he dipped his beak in the water and drank...then took more food...and drank.

I was such a happy duckie mommy!
I dried him up after that and then put him under his heat lamp and he happily napped away!

One question I do have about the heat lamp ....I currently have him in a large plastic tub with a towel, and in the corner where the heat lamp hangs, I also have a stuffed animal and another washcloth for him to snuggle with.
But the heat lamp gives off a lot of light...would this keep him awake? Should I buy any sort of special heat bulb?
I woke up around 3:30 this morning and peeked over at him and he was all snuggled in the corner but his eyes were open.

I just want to be sure everything I'm doing is correct!

 

[dyzired]

When she was little

Growing up

And the big girl

Soo cuuute!

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Hello everyone! Okay, so we tried the suggestion someone made about whistling to him and nibbling at the food and that definitely made him more interested. I even tried playing the video of the baby wood ducks chirping and he went crazy for that again. But ended up taking off out of my boyfriends hands again. He has some serious speed lol

Last night I was feeling hopeless because he really hasnt eaten much (atleast in front of me),so I decided to try one more thing.

I cleaned out my bathroom sink, and filled it with water maybe 2 inches. And I put him in there, and put my hand in the water so he could sort of perch on my fingers...and then put some soaked chick Starter on my Palm and used my finger to kind of pick some up and offer it...and he started to eat some! Then he dipped his beak in the water and drank...then took more food...and drank.

I was such a happy duckie mommy!
I dried him up after that and then put him under his heat lamp and he happily napped away!

One question I do have about the heat lamp ....I currently have him in a large plastic tub with a towel, and in the corner where the heat lamp hangs, I also have a stuffed animal and another washcloth for him to snuggle with.
But the heat lamp gives off a lot of light...would this keep him awake? Should I buy any sort of special heat bulb?
I woke up around 3:30 this morning and peeked over at him and he was all snuggled in the corner but his eyes were open.

I just want to be sure everything I'm doing is correct!

I like my Mama heatpad. It works like a charm. I will get you the link, Blooie and the rest are very helpful.