Mallard Duckling

[Saosin]

My uncle just brought me a mallard duckling and I have no idea how old it is. Apparently the mother left it when it got tangled in the net down by his house. I was wondering if anyone if can tell me how old it is. I haven't had mallards in a while and I can't remember much. Here's a pic of it :

 

[duckgirl_19]

it looks a couple days old. but are you sure its a mallard and not a rouen?

 

[1lpoock]

If it was in the wild and the mother left it it was most likely a mallard.

 

[duckgirl_19]

oh because mine looked just like that but there rouens because the tractor store i went to cant sell mallards

 

[PlumTuckered]

I would guess anywhere from a couple of days old to two weeks old. I've got three 11 day old mallard gals and they look just like this.
I would put a mirror in with the baby so he/she doesn't get lonely, unless you have other ducklings.
Michelle

 

[ChickenNewbie5]

i think you can tell the difference between a mallard and a rouen by the stripes on the eye area? Mallards have a small black "dot" type mark below the eye and one eye stripe. Rouens have no "dot" mark and double stripes.

Chandi

 

[ChickenNewbie5]

i purchased 3 mallard ducklings from tractor supply 7 weeks ago

 

[Saosin]

Thanks everyone

and I don't have any other ducklings unfortunately, only chicks. This really helped me

 

[xke4]

How wonderful that you have taken him in. Be sure to get him off the newspaper tho. It is not good for his leg development. Even putting paper towelling over top will help.

 

[Saosin]

Ok, I actually put him with my chicks and they bonded. He follows them everywhere. Now I just need to get him to warm up to me with some time. They don't peck at him which I am very relieved to see and they all get a long.