Given abandoned baby. What do i do?

[schatze]

A friend's parents found this baby in their yard alone without any sight of a family. They called me to get it since I've raised 6 ducklings. None of my ducklings were born wild. Even though this little guy looks like mine did at a day old, I think it's already imprinted to ducks. I tried putting him in my brooder where I currently have 2 16days old ducklings. They freaked out. The baby chased them around the brooder. What can I do?

 

[Amiga]

I would keep it separate with an unbreakable mirror, water and food (it may not recognize crumbles as food, you may need some mealworms or worms) and contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

 

[ChickenDaddy26]

I know very little to nothing about little ducks, unfortunately so I can't give you any advice I'm afraid, but that little guy/gal is SO CUTE!! Colored up like a little bumble bee! I've never seen one like that! Best of luck with the little duck!!

 

[Dr. Todd]

It's a Black-bellied Whistling-duck. Try Google for your state wildlife rehabilitation organization and get it to a rehabber ASAP. In the meantime keep it warm, dry and quiet. Use a mirror if you have one to make it feel it has a sibling.
DT

 

[Amiga]

Looks a bit like a whistling duck baby. Call the wildlife rehabbers.

 

[Starfire669]

A friend's parents found this baby in their yard alone without any sight of a family. They called me to get it since I've raised 6 ducklings. None of my ducklings were born wild. Even though this little guy looks like mine did at a day old, I think it's already imprinted to ducks. I tried putting him in my brooder where I currently have 2 16days old ducklings. They freaked out. The baby chased them around the brooder. What can I do?

So cute! I'd contact a wildlife rehabber as suggested. I would also keep it away from your domestic ducklings for bio security, no telling what the baby has been exposed too already. Give it a mirror, warmth, water, and food. If it won't eat crumbles try adding some mealworms to a small bowl of crumbles to teach it that crumbles are food. If you want this baby to go back to the wild, try not to mess with it too much. I know that's hard when they are so very cute and cuddly.

Good luck with the baby. I hope that cutie gets a happy ending.

 

[schatze]

She's been using the mirror as a step stool. She's got a vertical leap of 8in, and scaling a 4ft tall screen was nothing to her. I have her in her own brooder now. The wildlife rehab won't be open until Tuesday. She's drinking but hasn't shown any interest in the worms. She's only called a few times. She just jumps...a lot. When I got her from my friend's mom, she was quiet and still for hours. Downright boisterous now.

 

[schatze]

She's sleeping next to the mirror now...finally! I don't know what I should do until Tuesday! The feed store has new mallards, should I get a pair of brooder mates for her in the meantime? She seems so incredibly lonely. Where she was found is 60 miles from me, and I've never seen her breed near here. I hope she'll be ok until Tuesday. Regardless, she'll be released in my backyard since my backyard is the release sight for the local rehab facility.

 

[duckincubation]

Ya that would be good to get her mallards as long as you can take care of them