Found Baby duck

[ZoeS95423]

Nice story. Although, that doesn't look like a wild duck? I don't live near water, other than my pond we dug a few Years ago.. Which is in my back yard. The duckling was almost to the back of the field so 350 yards give or take.

The little guy seems to be doing good so far!

 

[desertdarlene]

It looks like a wood duckling. Chances are the mama nested in a tree and he was the last to jump out and got left behind when the family moved on. They can nest a long way away from the nearest water.

I'm glad he's doing well as wood ducklings are notorious for being difficult to get to eat for the first time. I think the idea about putting it with the chicks with supervision, even temporarily, will help it learn what to eat.

 

[nayeli]

Fuzziecreatures I am about 4 hours away from the nearest rehabber. I do not have time to drive all that way, and last time we called them a few years ago they weren't concerned.

That's what I thought, that yhr chicks will teach it. I've always had ducklings and other babies for the past 5 years, but never a wild one.
It is still alive this morning and has a good amount of energy! I am going to tty putting some chicks in with it. I have a "cackle hatchery surprise" bunch of chicks, so I'll find 2 of the smaller ones.

Its funny, my poor duckling still limps so I help her down from the coop (the ducklings are still with the chicks in a tractor for now)... anyway as soon as I put her down her other duckling comes rushing down and she keeps calling til a white chick joins her... I think its probably the chick I had in with her in the seperate brooder. The chick is always the first chick out! It's sweet!

 

[ZoeS95423]

Well, the thing I don't understand is, it was in the middle of my field. Wood ducks nest in trees, the closest trees are about 200 yards. Isn't that rather far for this little this to be out n its own?
He seems to be doing good today. I put a chunk of sod/grass in the brooder with him and sprinkled food on it hoping it would help him eat, and it did! I am having a terrible time finding a duck friend for him though.

And I called the rehab, they told me to put him back where I found him and he would find his mom...

 

[KelC0308]

@Fancychooklady what kind of Duck was Donna?

 

[Fancychooklady]

@Fancychooklady what kind of Duck was Donna?

Donna is a native black duck crossed with a khaki Campbell . They are not domestic ducks . They come and go . I don't own any ducks and our resident sea eagle usually gets the chicks.

 

[KelC0308]

We'll she is Beautiful

 

[Fancychooklady]

Well, the thing I don't understand is, it was in the middle of my field. Wood ducks nest in trees, the closest trees are about 200 yards. Isn't that rather far for this little this to be out n its own?
He seems to be doing good today. I put a chunk of sod/grass in the brooder with him and sprinkled food on it hoping it would help him eat, and it did! I am having a terrible time finding a duck friend for him though.

And I called the rehab, they told me to put him back where I found him and he would find his mom...

Once in school holidays we found an entire family of native wood ducks locked up in the tennis courts. Mum,dad and 7 day old chicks. They had nested in the woodlands and were on they way to the lakes ( 2 mile away ) . The chicks could fit through the wire and my guess is mum and dad flew over and were trying to get the chicks out. My husband had to climb the 2 m fence catch them all and put them in a box. Daddy duck was ferocious , but once momma and the kids were in the box he gave in. We drove them down to 'Perry lakes ' and released them.
I have seen an entire family of ducks holding traffic up on the bridge. They nest up high in the trees and then once the chicks hatch they start the pilgrimage over hill and dale to the water.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, the thing I don't understand is, it was in the middle of my field. Wood ducks nest in trees, the closest trees are about 200 yards. Isn't that rather far for this little this to be out n its own?
He seems to be doing good today. I put a chunk of sod/grass in the brooder with him and sprinkled food on it hoping it would help him eat, and it did! I am having a terrible time finding a duck friend for him though.

And I called the rehab, they told me to put him back where I found him and he would find his mom...

They really said that? I find that amazing. especially after they have all been gone for more than 24 hrs.

 

[Fancychooklady]

This footage explains it all.

http://www.arkive.org/wood-duck/aix-sponsa/video-09a.html

http://wildtones.com/blog/tag/birding/