Duckling Army

[Chickincredible]

Okay, so the other day I was out and I found 4 stranded ducklings but by the time that I got a box, they had run off. I was so worried so I went back to the parking lot I'd found them at and went along back. There was a murky pond and straight away I found a duckling.

She was all alone and swimming by a floating dead duckling. And then there was another live one, and another, until I looked over my shoulder and there were 25 others. Two dead total.

After a few minutes a Muscovy swam up to them but she only looked like she cared about a few, though many followed her. I'm worried that the others will die because they weren't protected. I had picked up two and the Muscovy eagerly took the one that I had named Tino. The other, however, didn't want to leave me and the mother (of 29!) didn't even acknowledge her.


So my question: should I take the ones that the Musvovy didn't care for?

 

[Amiga]

Can you contact a local rehabber and get some idea? Much of the decision is how you feel, what you think is right. Then there is the question - are you willing and able to get yourself set up to care for them, deal with any legal issues, etc?

There is a Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the U.S. to consider.

 

[nayeli]

I can't imagine she hatched out all 29... that being said ducklings do die through no fault of the mother. I personally would leave them.

 

[Chickincredible]

Thank you both, but I've just been worrying. I know that I shouldn't mess with nature but some are all alone and it breaks my heart that two are already dead. I haven't made a definite decision yet.

 

[nayeli]

I might take the ones if they truely are alone and not in a pack. Ducklings from the same hatch usually stick together, so that would worry me too.

Plus there should be at least two mothers for that many eggs, usually more but I have heard of ducks hatching ALOT!

 

[Chickincredible]

The few stray ones are the ones that appear to be the youngest, too. I'm really mad at myself because I named the first one I saw and that leads to feeling attached. I'm still debating and I am hesitant to call an animal shelter since they could separate the actual babies from the actual mom and not just her "adopted" ones. I'll check on them tomorrow or something to see if maybe I'm just making a big deal over nothing.

 

[nayeli]

Keep us updated. I might leave some food if possible for the ones who are alone.

 

[Fawkes]

Muscovies are domestic so those ducks are feral. Like feral cats. So you don't have to worry about any laws or anything. There's only one area in the US where they're native, some place in Texas I think. That's the only place they're protected.

If you see any that aren't being cared for or are injured/ill looking then I'd take them if I were you. It sounds like the stray ones were either abandoned or something happened to mom.

They'll all mostly die from predators etc, even the ones with a mom, so any ones you take will be lucky. I deal with this all the time because I have a half acre pond in my yard and feral muscovies and mallards basically adopted me. They have a lot of ducklings every year (some scovies hatch as many as 26 in one brood! they're excellent brooders) and some abandon their ducklings, some ducklings need help because of deformities or getting hurt by a predator etc.

 

[Chickincredible]

Thank you all!

Unfortunately, I was busy today an couldn't check up on them. Tomorrow it is! I'm praying that they are still there after a couple of days and I'm bracing myself that no more died. I'll tell you guys if I do in fact take them, though I'd have to give them to someone else due to HOA restrictions. *sigh* I kept ducks for a while but then I had to give them up.

Just hoping to help these little guys!

 

[Chickincredible]

I went to go check on the ducks today and only ten were left. The Moma and apparently Dad were there and never let the peeps go too far. I'm praying that someone else found them and took them in but the two dead ones' bodies were gone