How old? Orphaned duckling

[Amdlp]

Found this sweet baby in our front yard. (We searched for over an hour to find her family, but were unsuccessful.) I know she’s less than a week old— but can we tell closer to days? She’s a Wood Duck.

I’m just wondering if she’ll imprint on me or not. We’ve called and made sure we were zoned for waterfowl (we are) and if it’s legal to keep Wood Ducks in our state (it is).

We’d like to keep her. I am trying to find a companion, but in the mean time I’d like to bond with her. So far she could care less where I am, runs away, but I’ve had her less than 24 hours. ‍

I’m wondering if it’s possible she was a late hatchling or if something happened to mom?

 

[redranger209]

(S)he's very young, under a week. When you get flockmates for her, make sure you get bantam ducks, so they're around the same size.

 

[Miss Lydia]

A rehabber May take the duckling so it can go back to the wild. It may have fallen out of a nest they nest In Trees usually 30’ or higher. It’s very hard to get them to eat from what I have read I’d go on the ornamental forum there you can talk to others who keep them. As for imprinting I can’t say since they are not like domestics.

 

[happy duck]

I think that duck is pushing 3-4 days old(maybe even 2-3 days). She is very little! I would try to find a place to rehab her. That is your best bet with her being a wild duck. Bringing wild ducks in as pets is not uncommon but is never easy. She most likely was separated from mom before she was born or shortly after. I she probably bonded with mama(in there little time together). I am sure you will make the right choice for this girl. I would also maybe consult some kind of vet to see what would be best for the bird(if keeping it as a pet or by sending it to rehab/wildlife rescue and sending her back to the wild is the best option.

 

[Amdlp]

Update: she’s been eating really well now and has bonded to me completely— I think she just needed to settle in a bit. I called our rehab center nearby and brought her in to make sure she was healthy and to see about her age— the woman thinks that she was a late hatchling and is only a day or two old (at the time I took her in), as well, as she seems to have REALLY taken to me— I think she did, in fact, imprint. I think we are going to keep her, though we do need a permit as we didn’t “buy” her, but that’s pretty easy to acquire in my area apparently. The rehab center was SO helpful and gave us a ton of info. (They are overwhelmed with animals at the moment, too.) We’re in the process of finding her a companion, though we are having a hard time as no more places are selling ducklings her age.

Thanks everyone for your input. We’re excited to make sure she’s got a happy, healthy life ahead of her. We’ll be doing even more research so we’re able to give her everything that she needs to thrive. We aren’t new to raising poultry/waterfowl, but we are new to having a Wood Duck. We also have some great resources and for that I’m thankful. (I’m really glad I brought her in and spoke with the center.)

 

[DuckyDonna]

Update: she’s been eating really well now and has bonded to me completely— I think she just needed to settle in a bit. I called our rehab center nearby and brought her in to make sure she was healthy and to see about her age— the woman thinks that she was a late hatchling and is only a day or two old (at the time I took her in), as well, as she seems to have REALLY taken to me— I think she did, in fact, imprint. I think we are going to keep her, though we do need a permit as we didn’t “buy” her, but that’s pretty easy to acquire in my area apparently. The rehab center was SO helpful and gave us a ton of info. (They are overwhelmed with animals at the moment, too.) We’re in the process of finding her a companion, though we are having a hard time as no more places are selling ducklings her age.

Thanks everyone for your input. We’re excited to make sure she’s got a happy, healthy life ahead of her. We’ll be doing even more research so we’re able to give her everything that she needs to thrive. We aren’t new to raising poultry/waterfowl, but we are new to having a Wood Duck. We also have some great resources and for that I’m thankful. (I’m really glad I brought her in and spoke with the center.)

Where are you? I've just hatched and am getting ready to hatch again!

 

[happy duck]

Update: she’s been eating really well now and has bonded to me completely— I think she just needed to settle in a bit. I called our rehab center nearby and brought her in to make sure she was healthy and to see about her age— the woman thinks that she was a late hatchling and is only a day or two old (at the time I took her in), as well, as she seems to have REALLY taken to me— I think she did, in fact, imprint. I think we are going to keep her, though we do need a permit as we didn’t “buy” her, but that’s pretty easy to acquire in my area apparently. The rehab center was SO helpful and gave us a ton of info. (They are overwhelmed with animals at the moment, too.) We’re in the process of finding her a companion, though we are having a hard time as no more places are selling ducklings her age.

Thanks everyone for your input. We’re excited to make sure she’s got a happy, healthy life ahead of her. We’ll be doing even more research so we’re able to give her everything that she needs to thrive. We aren’t new to raising poultry/waterfowl, but we are new to having a Wood Duck. We also have some great resources and for that I’m thankful. (I’m really glad I brought her in and spoke with the center.)

Congrats! Have fun with her! Have you named her yet?

 

[VeryHappyHens]

Found this sweet baby in our front yard. (We searched for over an hour to find her family, but were unsuccessful.) I know she’s less than a week old— but can we tell closer to days? She’s a Wood Duck.

I’m just wondering if she’ll imprint on me or not. We’ve called and made sure we were zoned for waterfowl (we are) and if it’s legal to keep Wood Ducks in our state (it is).

We’d like to keep her. I am trying to find a companion, but in the mean time I’d like to bond with her. So far she could care less where I am, runs away, but I’ve had her less than 24 hours. ‍

I’m wondering if it’s possible she was a late hatchling or if something happened to mom?

You can get her more companion wood duck from mc murray hatchery or call ducks from Hoovers!!