Found abandoned duckling! Need advice please!

[aart]

apparently nothing gets through to him!

..and it's weird that he keeps ranting against poop and not wanting duck...but just keeps posting

 

[johntfs]

I think the OP is looking for helpful advice regarding caring for the obviously unwell duckling, suggesting that he/she should cut the back toe-off is just plain nonsense and then trying to scare him/her with the penalties of keeping a wild mallard. I'm sure you're input would be very different if you were in his/her shoes.

Then you would be wrong. In a couple-three weeks I fully expect to be in his or her shoes with the idea of rescuing wild mallards. Because of this I've already established where the nearest wildlife rehabilitation center is so I can take them there. I did that because I want to help lost/injured/orphaned duckling but did not want to break federal laws in doing so.

While the consensus thus far seems to be that the duckling that was rescued is a domestic rouen, at the time the belief was that it was a wild mallard. The bit about the toe? That's not some evil, sadistic trickery I made up. That's what federal regulators established as the process for distinguishing between wild and domestic mallard ducks. As the OP stated their intent to keep the duckling, I gave advice about the toe-removal to help them reduce (not eliminate) the chances of getting caught doing that.

I'm assuming, because I don't know, that removing the rear toe causes no significant pain or injury to the duckling because it's something required by federal regulations. The advice I was giving to the OP was based on those regulations. I didn't write those regulations. I don't endorse them. I was simply giving the OP the best advice I could give based on them.

By the way, @2 many chickens and @DuckyDonna, you can poo-poo my advice if you want, but you're not the ones with skin in this game, are you? The OP is.

 

[Miss Lydia]

And we may never hear from them again because of scaring them about saving the life of a tiny newly hatched duckling. That’s all they wanted to do. I hope they will let us know how the little one is doing.

 

[johntfs]

And we may never hear from them again because of scaring them about saving the life of a tiny newly hatched duckling. That’s all they wanted to do. I hope they will let us know how the little one is doing.

I hope they weren't frightened off and I hope the little duckling is doing better. Trying to save that little baby duck is very much a good deed. I just didn't want the OP to end up getting punished for it.

 

[Lilwolfie]

That’s awesome! just keep an eye on that bottom so it doesn’t get plugged again. Thanks for the update. Please keep them up.

She has been doing okay, eating drinking and pooping alright. But I fell asleep and tucked her in her blanket in her cage and when I woke up she was under the heat lamp laying on her back unable to get up. She cant walk yet really and I think she has a balance problem? Shes doing okay now I got.her cooled down..

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank goodness, so happy to hear she’s okay now. did we mention putting her on some liquid BComplex? You can get human or animal places that sell human vitamins should have the human liquid b complex 3 ml in her drinking water. A day or go to TSC and get the Durvet liquid B Complex 1ml daily it’s more concentrated. You can give both of these by mouth instead of in their water which waters it down but you have to be careful they don’t aspirate it into their lungs. Can also be put over a small amount of feed so she gets full dose.The liquid b complex really can get them up on their legs if it’s a nutrient problem.

 

[Isaac 0]

How's the duckling doing this morning?

 

[Lilwolfie]

How's the duckling doing this morning?

Honestly shes not doing too well, she still isnt walking at all and now she can barely hold her head up. She will drink but she doesnt eat much if at all, she cant drink or eat by herself because she will fall over and not be able to get up

 

[Isaac 0]

Honestly shes not doing too well, she still isnt walking at all and now she can barely hold her head up. She will drink but she doesnt eat much if at all, she cant drink or eat by herself because she will fall over and not be able to get up

Has she pooped much? How does her vent look? Video or some pictures of her would help us a lot. Have you administered any type of electrolytes or vitamins? It's possible she was born with a Deformity/Deficiency which is the reason she was left behind, the sooner it's corrected the better chance she has.

 

[Lilwolfie]

Has she pooped much? How does her vent look? Video or some pictures of her would help us a lot. Have you administered any type of electrolytes or vitamins?

I will take some pictures in a moment, her poopoo is fine shes pooping and everything looks fine. She just has some really bad balance, I just wish we knew what was really wrong with her. I watched a video that a little bit of Gatorade is good for energy so I have been giving her a little bit of Gatorade mixed with water.