Baby Duckling Won’t Eat

[tansandberg]

Hi there, so 2 days ago I found a baby duckling on the highway that had been abandoned by its mother presumably because it’s leg is a little lame , and it flips over whenever it walks. I took in this duck and got it most everything I could find online to make it comfortable. Heating lamp, decent sized enclosure, a baby chick to keep it company, a water feeder, and starter feed. The first day it was fine, ate, and was energetic. Yesterday I noticed it didn’t really eat at all and today it hasn’t eaten a single bite of food that I have seen. I made a mush from the feed and some water, and I shaved up some carrots really fine so it wouldn’t have a problem eating, and it hasn’t even looked at either of them. Does anyone have any idea how I can help my little guy out and get him to eat to get big and strong?? Any help is appreciated!! Thank you!!!!

Edit: Just forgot to add the duck is getting lethargic and doesn’t want to move and the leg is also getting more and more lame. If you pick up the duck it used to move around and now it just like falls asleep in your hand and wherever you place the duck it doesn’t even move from there and just starts falling asleep.

 

[chickens really]

Well exactly what are you feeding it?
Babies need Grit if not fed a manufactured feed.
If a wild migratory Duck it's illegal to help it so contact a wildlife rehab centre..

 

[Miss Lydia]

@tansandberg can you post a picture of the little duckling? Some wild ducks don’t eat same as domestics.,

 

[chickens really]

@tansandberg can you post a picture of the little duckling? Some wild ducks don’t eat same as domestics.,

?...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mallards maybe more apt to eat feed that their domestic counterparts eat I understand wood ducks are very hard to feed.

 

[chickens really]

Mallards maybe more apt to eat feed that their domestic counterparts eat I understand wood ducks are very hard to feed.

Well I've never heard that before...

 

[tansandberg]

I have no idea what changed... but literally 10 minutes ago he’s sitting beside his buddy the chick, and the chick gets up and goes to get some food and he followed the chick and ate!!! I really really appreciate everyone’s fast replies!

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s awesome!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well I've never heard that before...

I didn’t know that either until I was reading others talking about how hard it was to get wood ducklings to eat.

 

[chickens really]

I didn’t know that either until I was reading others talking about how hard it was to get wood ducklings to eat.

Possibly because bill is tiny and nothing to do with quality of feed. I have to grind up feed in my coffee grinder for tiny Calls..