I found a baby duck!

[Purdybirdy]

How much exercise do babies need?
The first pic is her in her nap bag. When im cooking or unable to hold her she goes into that.
It's not tight and she can pop her head in and out.

It's been a few years since I've had ducks, and when I did it was never less than 6 at a time.
This is just 1 baby. My neighbors moved and must have overlooked this little guy in the animal roundup.
I've reached out to them 2 days ago but haven't heard back. I guess it's mine now.

I don't plan on getting another duck, so don't tell me to do that. I've never enjoyed ducks really. They are messy and smelly.

This one though has stolen my heart. She (or he) is so cuddly and friendly. Cries when you put her down and hates to be alone. I drive for work so I can bring her with me in a carrier when she's older, but for now she's in a sling around my neck.
I stop every 2 hours for a break for her. She walks a bit but really she cries to be picked up constantly

How much exercise do babies need? She hates being put down.

 

[johntfs]

It looks like she's imprinted on you, so you're Mom at this point. Ducklings get freaked out if they're away from Mom because being alone generally means getting dead for them.

Presumably you've got a brooder with a good heat source and all that.

I don't know much about duckling exercise needs, but pretty much they need calories/food a lot because they grow quickly and that growth needs fuel.

One thing you might do is put some mirrors and a fluffy doll/animal in with her (him?). Basically give her something to cuddle (bonus points if it resembles the kind of duck she is). Meanwhile the mirrors will make her feel part of a "flock."

You're going to need to think about living arrangements for her. She'll grow really, really fast. In less than 60 days you'll have a duck. And ducks can easily live 10-15 years or more.

 

[Jpat]

Thats sweet, Saving baby animals is always the right thing to do

I couldnt say exactly how much exercise is needed but it is needed, iam sure youve noticed brooding ducks before its like they are up and running more than sleeping

Ive had a few single indoor ducklings before at seperate times and playtime in the bath tub helps tire them out and keep them clean

If the weather is nice out door trips are great for excercise and to pick up grit and i feel its just a healthy practice

is your long term plan to keep her indoors?

 

[chelseachook]

Give the duckling a bucket of water to swim in. I did it when I had ducklings and they loved it. It will also give it some good exercise. Good luck! She/he is so cute!

 

[Dougdilman]

How much exercise do babies need?
The first pic is her in her nap bag. When im cooking or unable to hold her she goes into that.
It's not tight and she can pop her head in and out.View attachment 2047448

View attachment 2047441It's been a few years since I've had ducks, and when I did it was never less than 6 at a time.
This is just 1 baby. My neighbors moved and must have overlooked this little guy in the animal roundup.
I've reached out to them 2 days ago but haven't heard back. I guess it's mine now.

I don't plan on getting another duck, so don't tell me to do that. I've never enjoyed ducks really. They are messy and smelly.

This one though has stolen my heart. She (or he) is so cuddly and friendly. Cries when you put her down and hates to be alone. I drive for work so I can bring her with me in a carrier when she's older, but for now she's in a sling around my neck.
I stop every 2 hours for a break for her. She walks a bit but really she cries to be picked up constantly

How much exercise do babies need? She hates being put down.

Well now that is like finding gold. How sweet! i would think that spending time in the bath tub and in a penned area would do

Mabye invest in some Goodwill blankets you can put down for her and an indoor puppie
Or a babies crip mabye?

 

[Purdybirdy]

Hey guys! Thanks for replies!

Yes she'll be my inside buddy. I realize she will live a long time, I'm good with that.

She's got a brooder next to some week old barred rock chicks I have. I put them together and she started being mean so I had to put her in a brooder alone.

Mirrors are a fantastic idea! Thank you, she doesn't care very much about stuffed animals. But I'll give mirrors a try.

I took her for a dip in the creek out back but unless my hand was in the water next to her she wanted to get out. My lord she's a needy baby lol.

 

[Dougdilman]

Iam so jelly!

 

[Tortoise]

Oh so cute. I always wanted to imprint on a duck. Always been afraid though that I wouldn't be able to give it as much attention as they seem to need. Always heard with any type of bird, that if they do get really attached and don't get the proper attention that they can die.
Good luck s/he is a keeper.

 

[johntfs]

Oh so cute. I always wanted to imprint on a duck. Always been afraid though that I wouldn't be able to give it as much attention as they seem to need. Always heard with any type of bird, that if they do get really attached and don't get the proper attention that they can die.
Good luck s/he is a keeper.

Well, they're probably not going to literally die from loneliness or something. They will be frightened and stressed if "Mom" isn't around a lot. That can exacerbate any health problems they have, which could lead to death. Still when Mom is not around they'll be scared, lonely and miserable. That why it's generally considered better to get more than one duck/duckling. Ducklings can also imprint on each other and keep each other company.

The above is why I have a cordial hatred for "Easter duckling" people. If parents get a child a dog or cat, the child treats it like part of the family. A duckling gets treated more like a living toy. For maybe two or three weeks or so. Then the work/mess/etc increases while the "cute factor" decreases. Meaning the duckling gets tossed out of the only home it knows to die of exposure, starvation or predation, frightened and alone.

 

[Isaac 0]

How much exercise do babies need?
The first pic is her in her nap bag. When im cooking or unable to hold her she goes into that.
It's not tight and she can pop her head in and out.View attachment 2047448

View attachment 2047441It's been a few years since I've had ducks, and when I did it was never less than 6 at a time.
This is just 1 baby. My neighbors moved and must have overlooked this little guy in the animal roundup.
I've reached out to them 2 days ago but haven't heard back. I guess it's mine now.

I don't plan on getting another duck, so don't tell me to do that. I've never enjoyed ducks really. They are messy and smelly.

This one though has stolen my heart. She (or he) is so cuddly and friendly. Cries when you put her down and hates to be alone. I drive for work so I can bring her with me in a carrier when she's older, but for now she's in a sling around my neck.
I stop every 2 hours for a break for her. She walks a bit but really she cries to be picked up constantly

How much exercise do babies need? She hates being put down.

Keeping one duck is just not a good idea, They can live upwards to 10 years if cared for correctly? Do you plan on being with her 24/7 for that long of a time? Lonely ducks can develop serious nervous habit issues and along with other problems related to stress. Not trying to be the Debby downer here just stating the cold-hearted facts no one wants here. If you don't enjoy having ducks give her to someone that can properly care for them.

http://minkhollow.ca/beckerblog/2010/06/15/keeping-a-single-duck-is-cruel/comment-page-1/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/why-you-shouldnt-keep-just-one-duck.1228573/