Found a lost little Duckling

[AppletonGuy]

My fiance and I were out walking our dogs in the middle of Appleton, WI. We came up to an intersection when I noticed something in the middle of it. I realized that it was a baby duck and quickly grabbed the dogs, sending my fiance out to check on it. We looked around but couldn't find it's family. So we grabbed it (being in the middle of the street) and brought it back home. He was very small and still had his egg tooth.

We didn't know what to do with it so we called a few numbers (animal control, the local zoo in Green Bay, and a few other places). On lady recommended that we just take it to a local water source where there were other ducklings/families, release it, and it would be adopted. Neither of us felt like this was good enough - we didn't want to just abandon it. We finally reached a place in Green Bay called the "Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary". They said we could bring it in and they would take care of it, but would have to do it tomorrow (which is ok).

Well we didn't know what to feed it, so we went and bought a few things. We actually tried rasberries first, and he seemed to like that. We didnt' try anything else.

I just wanted to know if anyone knew anything about this place in Green Bay. We really fell in love with the duck (named Pete by the fiance because of the sound he makes: "peep peep") and want to make sure he goes to a good home. Any response would be much appreciated!

 

[DuckLady]

Any federally licensed rehabilitator will be fine. They are trained to care for wild waterfowl.
If the baby still has the egg tooth, it ia a newly hatched duckling and will still be using up the yolk sac.
Often the ones you find alone were left behind because they hatched late or could not keep up.

You can go to www.duckrescue.org and look for a federally licensed rehabber near you.

Or Audobon Society. They can help you. Or even your State Fish and Wildlife Department.

Good luck!

 

[flakey chick]

Probably shouldn't feed it anything. It really has enough food for the first 3 days from its absorbed egg yolk. It can be hard for chicks (& ducklings) to digest other food until it gets grit in its gizard. If you feel you really need to feed it, give it small bits of cooked egg (scrambled or hard boiled). Its mommy would make sure the food is in small pieces, so you should too.

BTW good job.

 

[AppletonGuy]

Quote:
Thank you for the site. I just checked it and the place I will be taking it too is registered on there for Wisconsin. That makes me feel a lot better. My fiance will be sad though, she really has fallen for Pete! But we both want the best for him, and neither of us has the experience to raise him right!

 

[AppletonGuy]

Quote:
Actually we set the rasberry on my finger and he (or she!) just sort of nibbled on it and shook his head. Was really very funny! He did eat a little bit of it, but we didn't force it on him. We figured that he will be going to the place tomorrow, so he should be ok for tonight. I have him in a carboard box with a blanket for bedding. I also put a light on above him and made sure it wouldn't get too warm/cold.

My family used to raise chickens when I was very young, so while I may not remember all of it I do remember a few things!

 

[DuckLady]

You might just out a small waterer if you have one, like for quail.
Or put marbles in a regular waterer. THat way he can drink if needed and won't get wet by playing in the water and chilled.

Great job, you are doing the right thing!

 

[Cetawin]

Oh thank you both for saving the little duckling...that is just a kind thing to do.

Just make sure it is warm and has a shallow container of water. Take him to the rehabber tomorrow and he will be fine. If you leave your contact information with them and request it...they should contact you back and let you know how the duckling is doing.

 

[MDC]

You can feed them hard boiled egg and rolled oats that you might have on hand for oatmeal? Either one will be fine.

 

[cristy17]

I've been to "Bay BEach" a million times. Your little duck will be fine there. They have more wild ducks then I've ever seen. The staff there take animals / ducks constantly this time of year when people find them abandoned. Pete will be in good hands

 

[Anny]

I also found a little duckling yesterday, Silly little ducklings wondering away from their mums.