Ducklings Showed Up?

[DucksAreBest]

We brought them inside the garage inside a kiddy pool (with newspaper inside, not water). We set up a chick heat lamp and there are shady spots. We will try to get duckling food tomorrow, but for now, we have layer feed with a bit of water inside of it (to make it kind of a mush). Thank you for your help!

Great! Sounds like a good set up you got!

 

[Weeg]

Great job saving them!
My first though, what is animal control going to do with them? Put them in a shelter? Ducks don't do well in shelters, I personally think they will be much happier/have a better chance at life and life in general, if they stay with you, but not everyone has that option.

It sounds like you have a great setup! My only additional suggestion, don't use Newspaper. It gets slippery, and doesn't absorb moisture, leaving pee and poop sitting on top. Paper towels are better, but pine shavings or straw are ideal IMO. Great job!

 

[Pentatonchix]

Great job saving them!
My first though, what is animal control going to do with them? Put them in a shelter? Ducks don't do well in shelters, I personally think they will be much happier/have a better chance at life and life in general, if they stay with you, but not everyone has that option.

It sounds like you have a great setup! My only additional suggestion, don't use Newspaper. It gets slippery, and doesn't absorb moisture, leaving pee and poop sitting on top. Paper towels are better, but pine shavings or straw are ideal IMO. Great job!

We added some shavings. My neighbor once had ducklings (and a mom) in their backyard and when they called animal control, they brought them to the local duck pond. The problem is they look like domestic ducks so they might not survive there... Thank you

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

If you don't want them you could list them on Craigslist. Just an idea.

 

[CHlCKEN]

We got an offer from someone to take them. They have a pond, a cat, and bunnies. (will the cat be okay with the ducklings?) We will go over to evaluate this afternoon.

No cat is the same. My barn cat Shadow is terrified of chickens and ducks, but when they’re young all she wants to do is kill them. I wouldn’t let them give the cat access until they are fully grown, and even then supervise them when they are together.

 

[Pentatonchix]

How old are they? If they still have down, and not proper feathers, I would get them into warmth asap. Electrolytes and probiotics never hurt. If they are still very young, do not give them deep water. They cannot repel water at that age and can drown/become water logged and get cold very fast. Thank you for saving these little guys. I hope everything goes well for you!

Layer feed is okay in a pinch, but get them on proper duckling food asap. The calcium in layer feed can make them sick if fed long term.

I'm not sure how old. They both have down, one is just barely growing in feathers and the other seems a couple of days old. We have a pie pan for their water. Thank you!

 

[Kruchti]

They are cute!

 

[Weeg]

We got an offer from someone to take them. They have a pond, a cat, and bunnies. (will the cat be okay with the ducklings?) We will go over to evaluate this afternoon.

Cats wont even try to attack a full grown duck, but the babies, yes. As long as they are protected from the cat until they are full grown, it sounds like a great home! It may be a good idea for them to get a few more ducklings eventually though, because 1) two ducks is okay, but since there flock animals more is better, and 2) If one ends up being male, they will need 3 more females if they don't want anyone to be over mated.

 

[Weeg]

Thank you all for your advice! Turns out one of my neighbors was duck sitting their cousins' ducks. So last night we gave their duckies back in exchange for some banana bread (no nuts). They will be going home (to my neighbor's cousins) on Friday.

Lol! That is amazing! Perfect! I wonder why they had there cousins ducklings at there house? Thats weird! Lol! At least you found them a good home! Hahaha

 

[Corbdee]

Oh apparently I was a day late...I hope things went well!