Baby Wood Ducks, Feeding Questions & Videos

[ThreeOfSeven]

My orphaned babies are not quite 2 weeks old. (Two videos below!) They are wild Wood Ducks that will be released in mid to late August (as soon as they can fly) at a local, very large wildlife preserve near fresh water and other Wood Ducks (2,000+ acres).

I know that I will soon need to make adjustments in protein levels of their food. Right now, they're on a high-protein mix of duck starter/grower mash (22%) plus finely ground hard boiled egg and mealy worms (stopped adding finely ground oatmeal when I added mash mix). Last week, they would not touch the starter mash. I've got them to this 50-50 mix of mash and egg/worm combo, and I'll slowly increase the mash over the next few days. Last night, I left them a HUGE amount of food, and nearly all of it was gone. So this is positive progress, and they seem to be thriving. (The videos below that I took this morning show activity and food ... They're very camera shy.)

In the next week or so, I know that I need to gradually bring down the protein levels to approx. 16-18%, according to pinned post (2-8 wks @ 16-18%) and everything else I've read.

Here's my question: What is the best way for me to make this protein adjustment?

One web site (from England, I believe) recommends slowly switching wild ducklings from starter feed to duck/geese grower, but "duck/geese grower" appears to be hard to find, and the best I have for a local "feed" store doesn't carry anything like that.

Thanks for any help and advice you can offer! Now, here are the 2 videos of these beauties that I took this morning!

 

[fawnda]

Did you get these from domesticated Wood Ducks? It's illegal to have wild Wood Duck ducklings unless you're a wildlife rehabber.....

 

[cottontail farm]

Did you get these from domesticated Wood Ducks? It's illegal to have wild Wood Duck ducklings unless you're a wildlife rehabber.....

I think the OP already addressed this in a previous thread.. this was a situation involving ducklings in a storm drain and yes the local wildlife rehab organization was involved.
My concern is that you're going to have to wean them off of commercial feed entirely, none of that available in the wild. can you somehow recreate a scenario where they can start to learn to forage (maybe feeder fish in a kiddie pool)?

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

I think the OP already addressed this in a previous thread.. this was a situation involving ducklings in a storm drain and yes the local wildlife rehab organization was involved.
My concern is that you're going to have to wean them off of commercial feed entirely, none of that available in the wild. can you somehow recreate a scenario where they can start to learn to forage (maybe feeder fish in a kiddie pool)?

Thank you for clarifying that issue for me! You're absolutely correct. Local wildlife rehab people (regional and town) know I have these babies. They had zero space available for this rescue, and since I have 50% survival, it's unlikely they will take them at this point. Everyone I talked with about these babies has told me that wild Wood Ducks are the most difficult to raise, and hoping for 2-3 survivors is not uncommon.

As for diet, WDs are mainly foragers, eating plants like duckweed, seed, aquatic insects, maybe snails and clams. Adult WDs love acorns. As you can see in the videos above, I'm providing fresh local pond water, thick with duckweed. They took to that like ducks on water. (LOL) I'm hoping there are some critters and stuff floating in there too. When they're ready, I'll give them whole wheat. I have a schedule of dietary changes that correlates with their growth/age. At 2 weeks, which is coming up, I cut back protein, but can continue with lower protein commercial feed. I guess providing them with well-rounded nutrition is more important than finding all the things that they might eat in nature. Nonetheless, the pond water, duckweed, and whole grain should help them adapt.

I have a safe temporary enclosure so they get outside when the weather is good for a few hours, soak in some sunshine (vit. D), and play in water. I will soon have an outside predator-proof enclosure, so they can get out of that ugly box. I'll continue to provide a heat source, probably a mama cave. And, of course, they'll be able to swim. (I'll still be grabbing buckets of pond water.) That's all I can think of right now. Video of babies swimming outside is below (taken last week).

I truly appreciate all your suggestions and comments. It helps me think outside-the-box, which is what these babies need.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just love your videos. And I think you have done a wonderful job helping these little ones survive. They sure look healthy! I am seeing one is a little bigger than the rest? wonder if that could be a drake?

 

[aart]

Local wildlife rehab people (regional and town) know I have these babies.

Can they not advise as to how to feed these ducklings?

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

I just love your videos. And I think you have done a wonderful job helping these little ones survive. They sure look healthy! I am seeing one is a little bigger than the rest? wonder if that could be a drake?

Thank you. That means a lot to me.

Yes! One is quite a bit larger. Isn't he handsome? He's definitely a drake, gotta be.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They truly are beautiful birds. And he is gonna be a looker. I can imagine how happy you must be seeing them thriving and looking so happy. They don't seem stressed at all. Maybe this is your calling now?

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Can they not advise as to how to feed these ducklings?

I have direct contact with my town wildlife/animal officer. I could probably ask her if she can get information. She doesn't have personal experience with wild ducklings.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

Thank you. That means a lot to me.

Yes! One is quite a bit larger. Isn't he handsome? He's definitely a drake, gotta be.

The duckling also could have hatched a day earlier than the rest, with that many ducklings I’m sure you will get a Drake. Those babies look really happy and content, you should try to get licensed!