Ducking Help

[ClairesCanvas]

Hi from England.

we rescued a wild duckling 4 days ago.
We really didn’t think It would make it but with a full day of water, food and rest it soon became full of life.

Every morning it’s has woke me crying at 6am and then when I get to it happy chirping (genuine happiness to see me) and ready for its day. This morning however it did not wake me as usual. I woke up around 7:30am so check up on it and it awoke and started chirping - but neither its usual happy chirp or a cry And it’s not stoped.

I got it out and encouraged drink but it was more concerned with sleeping and cuddling. It stops chirping when it’s tucked under my arm and sleeping. it has barely eaten.

we have been feeding it extra Select - chick Crumb. (from Amazon)

I also purchased Johnson’s Poultry Tonic which i add to its water.

I suspect it could be cold, our heat lamp was broken - we haven’t had ducklings for a long time but our house is very warm, especially today!! We have been using a hot water bottle and a sleeve of an old wholly jumper at night- I know this is not ideal but with lock down it has been very difficult to get the bits we require

I am not sure how old he/she is but guessing only a week old.

It was grooming and scratching a lot last night but I couldn’t see any sign of mites.
Any advise would be much appreciated, I am very worried.
Thank you

 

[DuckyDonna]

Do you have a regular old fashioned incandescent light bulb left in your house you could use that as a heat lamp? I use a gooseneck desk lamp for mine. Put a towel or blanket over the top of the box you have it in to help keep in the heat.

What about a heating pad for humans? You could put a cover around it so it doesn't get nasty and put that in there too.

If you have a little stuffed animal or mirror put those in the brooder with him. It will make him feel like there is another duck with him.

@Isaac 0 @Miss Lydia do you have any more ideas?

 

[Isaac 0]

Estimation of the temp the duckling is in currently?

 

[ClairesCanvas]

Do you have a regular old fashioned incandescent light bulb left in your house you could use that as a heat lamp? I use a gooseneck desk lamp for mine. Put a towel or blanket over the top of the box you have it in to help keep in the heat.

What about a heating pad for humans? You could put a cover around it so it doesn't get nasty and put that in there too.

If you have a little stuffed animal or mirror put those in the brooder with him. It will make him feel like there is another duck with him.

@Isaac 0 @Miss Lydia do you have any more ideas?

Thank you very much. I will certainly give these options a try.

My partner has gone out searching for a new bulb for our heat lamp however only garden centres that sell food are open in England at the moment. Fingers crossed he can find something. Electrolytes Also be useful. it is now refusing todrink or eat and we have had a few sticky stools.

Any tips on getting fluid down him?
I’ve tried dipping his beak and putting water around with a pipette but it is not interested.

 

[ClairesCanvas]

Estimation of the temp the duckling is in currently?

Well he is currently nested under my fleece under my arm pit My thermometer says 30•c

and in his box at night with the water bottle and jumper it’s 40•c.

We do have a lid partially Over his container to keep the heat in but this temperature will still drop slowly as the water bottle cools.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope you can find a bulb.

 

[DuckyDonna]

be really careful trying to get fluid down him. You have the be sure you aim for THE DUCK'S RIGHT SIDE! Not yours. Here is a link with a great picture with demonstrates the proper way. If you get it down that big hole in the middle that's his trachea and he will aspirate and won't be able to breath. Not trying to scare you to death but just wanted you to be aware.

If you can dribble a few drops by the side of his bill it may prompt him to drink.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

 

[ClairesCanvas]

be really careful trying to get fluid down him. You have the be sure you aim for THE DUCK'S RIGHT SIDE! Not yours. Here is a link with a great picture with demonstrates the proper way. If you get it down that big hole in the middle that's his trachea and he will aspirate and won't be able to breath. Not trying to scare you to death but just wanted you to be aware.

If you can dribble a few drops by the side of his bill it may prompt him to drink.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

No not at all, im so glad I am getting some solid and honest advise. I haven’t tried to open it’s mouth and force feed it. Just gently dipping it’s beak in the water in vain hope it would open, or at least take a little in.

I’m not sure how but I think my thread posted twice so I’m getting very confused as to which one I’m updating. sorry everyone, you can tell I’m a newbie.

My partner managed to get a bulb and some brewers yeast .....more positive news duckling eat and drank a little with very little encouragement - was tiring very easily and still not the appetite we had been use to so we put it back to bed but def an improvement. I think I will wake it again shortly and try some more.

Also the constant chirping has stopped.....could this all have been something it had eaten?
keeping everything crossed it keeps improving.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hoping this is positive. Did you make the feed into warm soupy mix and try feeding it that way.