I found an egg by the lagoon***UPDATE****pic added

[poultrykeeper08]

*************Good News *************

He is ok . He is all recovered . Walking around

the only thing is he isnt drinking . Is it true you need to drop the babies 20 feet ???

Please let me know if any body knows anything

 

[PearlD]

I am so glad to hear that!! Maybe it will feel good enough to start eating /drinking in a couple of days!! Please post us another pic.....

PS: What other website could you go to that would actually tell you to drop a day old duckling!!!?!!!

 

[DuckLady]

Don't do anything yet. I have a call and email in to a federally licensed (and well known) wildlife rehabilitator who I hope has some time to advise you.

Wood ducks are easily spooked and stress easily to the point that they can die. Please don't handle it and let it have a place to hide. Provide heat and waterfowl starter and water like you would any duckling.
You have come this far, please wait to hear back.
Or you can contact Jennifer Gordon of Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, if you want a direct answer.
http://www.carolinawaterfowlrescue.com/
(704)668-9486
[email protected]

Edited to add a link to baby duck identification and info on whether they are protected or not
http://www.carolinawaterfowlrescue.com/BabyID.html

and here is an FAQ about wildlife.
http://www.carolinawaterfowlrescue.com/faqs.html

 

[Linda in San Diego]

Ok, I googled the whole thing about dropping woodrocks and here is what I found about woodrocks raised by mama:

Reproduction and Nesting
The wood duck is one of only a few duck species that nest in Florida. Courtship and pairing take place during winter. In early spring, the drake follows the hen to a nest tree she used the previous year or to the general area where she was hatched. For instance, a drake hatched in Florida may pair up with an overwintering hen from another state and follow her to her northern natal area for the nesting season.
Suitable nest trees have cavities; are within one-half mile of permanent water; have clear and easy access; and have shrubs close by to conceal the ducklings as they walk from the nest tree to the water. For nesting, they favor willow, maple, ash and sycamore trees with a trunk that measures at least 24 inches in diameter at about 4 feet above the ground. The height of the nest above the ground or water ranges from 3 to 60 feet. They will nest in old pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) holes. Wood ducks also readily nest in artificial cavities and boxes (see Habitat Management section).

Because wood ducks do not bring in nest material, the cavity should contain some litter (rotten wood) to form a base. The hen covers the eggs with her down feathers. Egg-laying starts in late January (the peak is February and March), with one ivory-colored egg laid every day until the clutch is finished (typically 10 to 15 eggs). Occasionally more than one hen will lay in the same nest. However, the hens usually desert these "dump nests." Two females occasionally use the same cavity, incubating in turn or simultaneously. Incubation begins the day after the last egg is laid and lasts about 30 days. During incubation, the hen usually leaves the nest twice a day, early in the morning and late in the afternoon, to feed and rest with her mate. Toward the end of incubation, the drake leaves the family to molt with other males and never returns.

Ducklings usually leave the nest the day after they are hatched. At the hen's call, they use their sharp claws to climb to the entrance of the tree cavity or nest box. They pause momentarily at the entrance before jumping sometimes from as high as 70 feet. They hit the ground or water uninjured. After the entire brood is out, the hen leads them to water.

The hen usually remains with her brood until the young are able to fly (about 9 weeks). The mortality rate (due primarily to predation from turtles, alligators, snakes, bass, etc.) of ducklings is quite high. Normally, only 3 to 4 from a brood survive to the flying stage. The hen, after leaving her brood, also molts during late summer. One brood per year is normal, but two broods can occur. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW180

So drinking water may not be a big deal the first day. Hope this helps.

 

[DuckLady]

Thanks, Linda. That explains why the ducklings drop, but doesn't support droppign them to get them started. If the mother had her nest near the bottom of the tree, there would be no need to drop from the nest. Now since this duckling didn't hatch up a tree, there is no need to drop it for any reason.

 

[waterfowlrescue]

You dont drop ducks to get them eating.

 

[ticks]

are you positive he is a wood duck? can we have another pic? If it is a wood duck call a specialist or your local game warden.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I researched the whole dropping thing. It is a little bit of an old wive's tale, sure they fall from the nest in the wild, but it is not required to make them eat or drink.

The article I read on it said many people who raise these ducks successfully, have not even heard of the required dropping. I wouldn't do it, myself.

Make sure you do a bit of reseach on Wood Ducks so you can provide the best you can for it.

-Kim

 

[poultrykeeper08]

The little guy is drinking and eating and thinks hes a chick . He follows them around and cudles with them . I Dont think hes a wood duck any more . I think he is a mallard . He loves to be picked up and makes little Peeping noises for me .

Ill take some new pics and post them so you guys can decide .

 

[poultrykeeper08]

What do you guys think mallare or wood duck ?