My Duck Needs Help!!!

[Isaac 0]

If you run a rope across the pond and have one person on each side, and wave/wale it around, slowly pushing the bird to the edge of the pond, you may be able to get him out. If not, rent or buy a kayak, and get out there on the pond, and flush him out. By the sounds of it, he's severely emaciated and needs medical attention, so lots of focus needs to be put on capturing him soon.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Ducks have special circulation in their legs and feet so the cold doesn't bother them like it does us.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I’ve tried he won’t eat

I figured but just wanted to throw that out there

 

[Duck_Lover_101]

He is 3.6 months old and he is a male buff Orpington duck

Aw, I'm so sorry about your duck! Though I think you are definitely right, if I recall correctly they can't fly (breed to be heavy set) as they are meat ducks, so this is definitely something that can't be long term (as he can't fly away from predators). My Orpington Duck is definitely a chunky boy!

Ok, this may be an extreme suggestion, but this worked for a bunch of chickens we had. So my Grandparents have a big property, and we kept some chickens out there. We let them free range and such while my Grandma watched from the porch, but one time some hawks attacked (and my Grandma didn't see them). All the chickens scattered, and it took the rest of the day to get them. Now, with all the coyotes, hawks, and raccoons that my Grandparents property had they would not have survived the night, so we were getting desperate as the sun started to set (there is never a night there isn't a coyote howling). So, we were all just pitching ideas like crazy because even if we did decide to let them stay in the woods overnight, we didn't have high hopes they would survive (our rooster had small spurs) the night. Do you have a cast net? What we did was we all surrounded the chickens and then my brother threw a cast nest over the birds and we quickly jumped and stilled the poor chickens. The reason why I hesitantly suggest it is because of the fact that they could get injured as they try to flap their wings and escape, but from your situation, it sounds like the duck may die if you just leave it there (especially if it's starving, alone, and in the cold). Our chickens didn't get hurt during the process though, but we changed the coop so that it had an enclosed run so we didn't repeat the experience again. But with the way you describe your duck, I think that any injury could be treated so it might be worth it. When all else fails I guess. I am by no means an expert, just a duck lover though! Just a suggestion, and even if this doesn't help, I really hope you get your duckie back <3

 

[Duckbreeder2020]

So he is probably stressed out from his flockmates being taken by a predator. Poor guy. He must be going through that "everyone is out to kill me, even the giant that feeds me" phase. It's like all of the love and care you've given them is completely forgotten. They all go through this phase, at least in my experience. You're probably going to need help capturing him.

Yes, I feel so bad for him

 

[Duckbreeder2020]

If you run a rope across the pond and have one person on each side, and wave/wale it around, slowly pushing the bird to the edge of the pond, you may be able to get him out. If not, rent or buy a kayak, and get out there on the pond, and flush him out. By the sounds of it, he's severely emaciated and needs medical attention, so lots of focus needs to be put on capturing him soon.

We have a boat but the pond is frozen over

 

[Duckbreeder2020]

Aw, I'm so sorry about your duck! Though I think you are definitely right, if I recall correctly they can't fly (breed to be heavy set) as they are meat ducks, so this is definitely something that can't be long term (as he can't fly away from predators). My Orpington Duck is definitely a chunky boy!

Ok, this may be an extreme suggestion, but this worked for a bunch of chickens we had. So my Grandparents have a big property, and we kept some chickens out there. We let them free range and such while my Grandma watched from the porch, but one time some hawks attacked (and my Grandma didn't see them). All the chickens scattered, and it took the rest of the day to get them. Now, with all the coyotes, hawks, and raccoons that my Grandparents property had they would not have survived the night, so we were getting desperate as the sun started to set (there is never a night there isn't a coyote howling). So, we were all just pitching ideas like crazy because even if we did decide to let them stay in the woods overnight, we didn't have high hopes they would survive (our rooster had small spurs) the night. Do you have a cast net? What we did was we all surrounded the chickens and then my brother threw a cast nest over the birds and we quickly jumped and stilled the poor chickens. The reason why I hesitantly suggest it is because of the fact that they could get injured as they try to flap their wings and escape, but from your situation, it sounds like the duck may die if you just leave it there (especially if it's starving, alone, and in the cold). Our chickens didn't get hurt during the process though, but we changed the coop so that it had an enclosed run so we didn't repeat the experience again. But with the way you describe your duck, I think that any injury could be treated so it might be worth it. When all else fails I guess. I am by no means an expert, just a duck lover though! Just a suggestion, and even if this doesn't help, I really hope you get your duckie back <3

Thank you so much. These suggestions are so good thank you all for responding, I’m going to spend all day tomorrow with my friends trying to catch him.

 

[Duckbreeder2020]

I’ll keep you guys updated if he survives another horrible lonely night

 

[Duckbreeder2020]

I might fall through but ok going to try to walk on the pond I’m going to have someone with me in case of an emergency

 

[hayley3]

I second what Isaac said. I got a duck off of a frozen pond with a long rope. One person on each side and slowly go toward the duck, moving the rope to make it go up and down.