Found abandoned duckling! Need advice please!

[Lilwolfie]

Final update for now: She is doing well now, she for sure is only 3 days or less old. She finally ate a little bit and she drank some water. Thank you all for your help and I will continue to let you know how she is


My dad found a duckling that can only be a couple days old on the side of the road, no mom in sight. He took her and gave her to me (I've had ducklings in the past but not this young or abandoned). I have her some water, food and a heating lamp in her little set up. Shes drank a little, I havent seen her eat much and she cant seem to walk well(I havent seen her wall but a few steps) When I first got her today she was breathing with her beak open, she is no longer doing that but I can still hear her breathing whenever I go to give her some water (in a syringe). She will shake her head randomly and now she is chirping a lot and I dont know if anything is wrong or if she just needs some company (which the chirping might be from that since she seems to be attached to me already) I also dont know what kind of duck she is please help! I want to make sure shes okay thank you!

 

[Jpat]

its probably a mallard, its mabye 3 days old but hard to tell from the photo

it will need warmth from a lamp or a heatpad wrapped in a towell, around 90 degrees
it will need good food

be carefull with the syringe because they can inhale water very easily, That could kill it

The best thing for it would be chick starter crumbles or duckling starter crumbles

This morning if your heading out to get some supplies and she needs food right away mash dry cat food or dog food into a wet soupy porridge in a small dish and leave fresh water too. it will be good for her but she still needs duckling food

Do you have ducks already? if you doo mash their food up for her

Shes very cute, Good work saving her!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Aww, that's so good of you to save her! I hope she pulls through! I second what Jpat said, be very careful about giving fluids with a syringe because it's easy for them to aspirate, if you do, I would only put a droplet on the side of her bill so that she does that actual drinking herself. If you can get some Nutridrench for poultry (a vitamin supplement) to add a little to the water that will help to give her a boost, especially since you don't know how long she was abandoned. Keep us updated!

 

[Jpat]

Aww, that's so good of you to save her! I hope she pulls through! I second what Jpat said, be very careful about giving fluids with a syringe because it's easy for them to aspirate, if you do, I would only put a droplet on the side of her bill so that she does that actual drinking herself. If you can get some Nutridrench for poultry (a vitamin supplement) to add a little to the water that will help to give her a boost, especially since you don't know how long she was abandoned. Keep us updated!

 

[DuckyDonna]

I'd pick up some B-complex if you're going to Tractor supply. It's a liquid but will help her a lot! 1 ml over a treat so she gets all of it!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hoping your little rescue makes it. A mirror that is safe can be put in with her to give her company.

 

[DuckyDonna]

and a little stuff toy also so she can cuddle with it.

 

[johntfs]

My dad found a duckling that can only be a couple days old on the side of the road, no mom in sight. He took her and gave her to me (I've had ducklings in the past but not this young or abandoned). I have her some water, food and a heating lamp in her little set up. Shes drank a little, I havent seen her eat much and she cant seem to walk well(I havent seen her wall but a few steps) When I first got her today she was breathing with her beak open, she is no longer doing that but I can still hear her breathing whenever I go to give her some water (in a syringe). She will shake her head randomly and now she is chirping a lot and I dont know if anything is wrong or if she just needs some company (which the chirping might be from that since she seems to be attached to me already) I also dont know what kind of duck she is please help! I want to make sure shes okay thank you!

If you're living in the USA you need to get it to a wildlife rehab person ASAP or you're breaking federal law. Figure you're not in huge danger of the "duck police" going SWAT on you, but in general it's better to not break federal law. Also, figure the baby is more likely to survive under the care of a qualified rehab person.

 

[Lilwolfie]

its probably a mallard, its mabye 3 days old but hard to tell from the photo

it will need warmth from a lamp or a heatpad wrapped in a towell, around 90 degrees
it will need good food

be carefull with the syringe because they can inhale water very easily, That could kill it

The best thing for it would be chick starter crumbles or duckling starter crumbles

This morning if your heading out to get some supplies and she needs food right away mash dry cat food or dog food into a wet soupy porridge in a small dish and leave fresh water too. it will be good for her but she still needs duckling food

Do you have ducks already? if you doo mash their food up for her

Shes very cute, Good work saving her!

I've done all that so far, she wont eat by herself though and she cant really walk. Shes leaning to her left side and cant seem to keep her feet underneath her all the time

 

[Lilwolfie]

Aww, that's so good of you to save her! I hope she pulls through! I second what Jpat said, be very careful about giving fluids with a syringe because it's easy for them to aspirate, if you do, I would only put a droplet on the side of her bill so that she does that actual drinking herself. If you can get some Nutridrench for poultry (a vitamin supplement) to add a little to the water that will help to give her a boost, especially since you don't know how long she was abandoned. Keep us updated!

Yes I've been giving her just little droplets and letting her drink, she still wont eat even though she pecks at everything but the food