Baby duckling rescued from cat.. help!

[Svaness]

Hey. This evening my cat came home with a duckling. It's fortunately still alive. I caught it when is bum got stuck trying to get through our chicken wire... it's currently in a box in our brooder room... please tell me what I should do. I want to return it to its family if you all think that's possible. If not can I integrate with my chicks????

 

[Mvan42]

Is it hurt? If not and you know where it came from the mama may take it back. If it’s wild I don’t know how well it will integrate into a tame flock. But you could try..

 

[Svaness]

Is it hurt? If not and you know where it came from the mama may take it back. If it’s wild I don’t know how well it will integrate into a tame flock. But you could try..

Thanks for responding. It doesn't seem to be hurt. I've got it in a box lined with pine shavings with a heating pad underneath.
We're not sure exactly where it came from and because we live in between two lakes there's usually a lot of ducks nesting.
We have 36 chicks a little over a week old. This duckLing seems to be only a few days old.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Can you post a photo of it?

 

[Svaness]

Can you post a photo of it?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

What a cutie! If it’s wild, I don’t know how well it will integrate with your flock. It’s mom may not accept it even IF you find her. Do you have any wildlife rehab place in your area that you can contact?

 

[Svaness]

What a cutie! If it’s wild, I don’t know how well it will integrate with your flock. It’s mom may not accept it even IF you find her. Do you have any wildlife rehab place in your area that you can contact?

Super cute. Its past 10pm here so there's no one I can call until tomorrow.

 

[MROO]

Hey. This evening my cat came home with a duckling. It's fortunately still alive. I caught it when is bum got stuck trying to get through our chicken wire... it's currently in a box in our brooder room... please tell me what I should do. I want to return it to its family if you all think that's possible. If not can I integrate with my chicks????

If you don't know, for sure, where it came from, setting it out on or around a pond is pretty much a death sentence. And I don't recommend putting it in with your chicks, either. As a wild bird, it should be quarantined before allowing it to be in contact with your babies. And be sure to wash up thoroughly between handlings.
I'm big into rescuing, myself, so my first instinct is to keep and mother the duckling until it's ready to go back on the pond, but your own babies need protection. If you can't isolate the duckling and still keep it warm, then taking it to a wildlife bird rescue is your best bet.

 

[Svaness]

How long should it be quarantined for? I've never rescued a duck before but I knew it wouldn't have stood a chance.
I'd like to do it myself and when it's ready to go out I'd like it to have the option of leaving or staying. Are there any risks to the chick raising aND then releasing? I wouldn't mind keeping it with my flock if it decides to stay

 

[Anime2lover]

I think if its young enough it might integrate well. Quarantine at least two weeks I think, if you can.