Need duck help -- found a baby

[FowlWeatherFriend]

Hi! We've recently caught the chicken bug and found this site. Our chicks come on Father's day and we are building our coop. I wasn't quite ready for the baby duck present that my husband brought home last week (8 days ago)! His workplace is right next to the river. This baby duck walked right up to a coworker at 10:30 p.m. Since we're birders and he's on the wildlife committee at work, they always give him the animals that are found at work.

At first we thought this was a Wood Duck but now his bill looks to be getting so long and flattening out a bit. We researched duckling pics online and now think he's a mallard. The eye stripe goes all the way to the bill.

On reading posts here, I found what to feed him and what to do. I took a large Rubbermaid container, cut two rectangles out of the lid, secured hardware cloth over these openings, and lay the heat lamp on top of one of the sides on the hardware cloth. I have a thermometer in there and at first it got near 90-degrees (with a 75-watt bulb). After the first few days he would always lay on the other side (without the heat), so we decreased the bulb to 60-watts. I have no idea how old he is, of course. I know you're supposed to decrease the degrees weekly. I thought maybe I had him too warm. I found un-medicated chick/duck starter (it's combined) at Tractor Supply. It has 20-22% protein. Here are my questions:

1.) What about swimming? I read online not to let them be in water alone since they are getting the oil from their Mom's feathers in the wild and without this, they will take on water and drown. I've put him in water and he splashes around and dunks his head, but he wants out pretty quickly. He seems scared. When I try to put him back, he doesn't want back in. I've tried to do this at least once/day as I've read they need this to keep their eyes/bill healthy. Any suggestions as to get him used to this?

2.) I'm concerned since he's a wild duck. I think even Mallards migrate from here to the southern states. In the fall when he's full grown, should we let him near our lake and give him the opportunity to go free? Will he be able to take care of himself out there now that he's imprinted on us? I read online not to handle wild ducks too much if you find one. Well, you can count that out around my kids! I have to set the timer when they hold him to decrease the fighting (not to mention, Mom likes her duck time as well!). The duck might as well not even have legs. He doesn't need them here! Someone's always got him! He needs to be taken care of. I can't imagine just leaving him in that box and not loving him! Are we doing him wrong in holding him so much?

3.) I'm figuring that ducks can't ever be with chickens in a coop, so we'll need to build a separate unit for him eventually. Does this need to be a doghouse or something that can be locked at night with as secure a run as we're building for our chicks (burried wire and hardware cloth also on top)? I'm assuming I'll need to bury a pool for him to swim also. When full grown, can we just let him free range if we're out with him?

4.) I've read to offer greens (spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, chopped boiled egg, etc.). I've tried putting these in his water for him to sift out. I've tried putting them down on a plate for him. He's not interested. I took him outside and sat with him on the grass. He does pick around as a duck should. He ate some fine pieces of grass and picked off a bug or two. How should I offer these greens and how do I make him interested in them?

5.) I read online last night not to give dry duck food to them. Do they mean not to give it dry even if it is starter food with such little granules? After reading this, I put some water in the starter to make it a little soupy , stirred this up and offered it. He didn't like it at all. He went straight for the dry again. Is this okay? He seems to like it and chases it with his water like he's supposed to.

6.) Should we ask the chicken supply place to throw in a mallard baby when we get our chicks next month so that this little one has one of his own to grow up with so he's not lonely (for one of his own. He couldn't be lonely with my smothering children!)?

7.) We just line the bottom of the Rubbermaid container with paper towels for now. Should we switch to pine shavings at this point as you would chicks? I'm afraid he'll eat them. Will it hurt his feet to continue to be in the container with just paper towels? I think I need to buy stock in a paper towel company. We're really going through them!!

Thanks in advance for helping us. We want this to be successful. He's so cute. Sorry this is so wordy. I just have so many questions as this is Greek to me!! We're birders and have rehabilitated birds, chipmunks, squirrels, etc., but baby ducks!!! I'm lost! Thanks again. I appreciate you guys!

 

[sonew123]

holy cow!!! you just asked every question imaginable that I couldn't spit out this am to ask myself! I'm watching this closely! Congrats on the baby!

 

[Duck Keeper]

It's illegal to even own shed feathers from wild mallards, so imagine the consequences of stealing a duckling from it's mother in the wild. o_o;

Now that you've posted it on the internet for everybody in the world to see...

 

[FowlWeatherFriend]

Dearest Duck Keeper,
This duck was not taken from a nest. It came wandering, by itself, to my husband's workplace in the middle of the night. I guess they should've just let it fall into the deep pits it was wandering nearby???? We are trying to help it survive! I was just asking for assistance to help this duck best we can. You make us sound like common criminals that get kicks from stealing wild animals from their mothers. This duck would've been dead in minutes if his coworker hadn't picked him up. Next time, one should just walk away, I guess????

 

[jellybean]

I'll try a few of them.
1. Mine wouldn't stay out of the water! I would give him a waterer he can't get in, might not be able to get out. As for not liking it, maybe it'll just take time, till he's a bit bigger to want to swim. I don't know.

2. If you want to keep him I would get another to go with him. I would think they'd better off with more than one.

3. Mine are about 5 weeks old, and I open the gate in the morning. They wander around eating all day, going in and out of the pen as they like. They haven't gone far yet, but as we have 20 acres I'm sure they will when they get a bit bigger. I've always done that, and just locked them up at night or when I'm gone. Once they get used to the area and where their pen is they're usually ok with this.

5. Mine eat the dry started and wash it down with water. I just try to always keep it in front of them or they'll just about choke themselves trying to scarf it down.

7. I use hay and that works pretty well, I wouldn't use shavings for a while. He would probably peck at them or eat them. Someone on here used a rubbery drawer liner, that could be washed off easily.

 

[Cetawin]

Okay here ya go...


1.) What about swimming? I read online not to let them be in water alone since they are getting the oil from their Mom's feathers in the wild and without this, they will take on water and drown. I've put him in water and he splashes around and dunks his head, but he wants out pretty quickly. He seems scared. When I try to put him back, he doesn't want back in. I've tried to do this at least once/day as I've read they need this to keep their eyes/bill healthy. Any suggestions as to get him used to this?

Use lukewarm water and toss some lettuce cut into 1/4" pieces on top of the water. They need to be able to get their heads under water to clean their beaks and so forth. Do not make the water too deep, make sure the duckie can stand up in it and b able to get in and out.

2.) I'm concerned since he's a wild duck. I think even Mallards migrate from here to the southern states. In the fall when he's full grown, should we let him near our lake and give him the opportunity to go free? Will he be able to take care of himself out there now that he's imprinted on us? I read online not to handle wild ducks too much if you find one. Well, you can count that out around my kids! I have to set the timer when they hold him to decrease the fighting (not to mention, Mom likes her duck time as well!). The duck might as well not even have legs. He doesn't need them here! Someone's always got him! He needs to be taken care of. I can't imagine just leaving him in that box and not loving him! Are we doing him wrong in holding him so much?

If you want to release him, be as hands off as possible. Since it is a wild protected species the best thing to do is call a wildlife rehabber in your area and give them the duckling...or stay as hands off as possible until release.

3.) I'm figuring that ducks can't ever be with chickens in a coop, so we'll need to build a separate unit for him eventually. Does this need to be a doghouse or something that can be locked at night with as secure a run as we're building for our chicks (burried wire and hardware cloth also on top)? I'm assuming I'll need to bury a pool for him to swim also. When full grown, can we just let him free range if we're out with him?

They need to be as safe from predators as chickens yes. the pool does not have to be buried but they will need a block or brick to use to climb in and one inside to help them get out.

4.) I've read to offer greens (spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, chopped boiled egg, etc.). I've tried putting these in his water for him to sift out. I've tried putting them down on a plate for him. He's not interested. I took him outside and sat with him on the grass. He does pick around as a duck should. He ate some fine pieces of grass and picked off a bug or two. How should I offer these greens and how do I make him interested in them?

Float them or offer by hand. He will get the hang of it. Remember that the duckling probably had siblings nearby and a mother to show him these things. He is all alone now and that in and of itself can cause them to not eat properly, peep a lot, not settle down and so forth.

5.) I read online last night not to give dry duck food to them. Do they mean not to give it dry even if it is starter food with such little granules? After reading this, I put some water in the starter to make it a little soupy , stirred this up and offered it. He didn't like it at all. He went straight for the dry again. Is this okay? He seems to like it and chases it with his water like he's supposed to.

Give the dry food but make sure he has water so he does not choke. they need water when they eat but the food does not get watered down by you.

6.) Should we ask the chicken supply place to throw in a mallard baby when we get our chicks next month so that this little one has one of his own to grow up with so he's not lonely (for one of his own. He couldn't be lonely with my smothering children!)?

If you can get another duckling do so. it would be far better for the little one.

7.) We just line the bottom of the Rubbermaid container with paper towels for now. Should we switch to pine shavings at this point as you would chicks? I'm afraid he'll eat them. Will it hurt his feet to continue to be in the container with just paper towels? I think I need to buy stock in a paper towel company. We're really going through them!!

I use shavings with a shelf liner on top of it. The need a rougher surface than chicks. But no matter what bedding you use...ducks are messy and get the bedding wet.

 

[Duck Keeper]

Quote:
As sad as it is, yes.
The mother lost it, or perhaps abandoned it because of illness or being weak.
I don't mean to make you sound like a criminal or anything, I just wanted to help you realize what you had done. Most ducks stay away from people, even the young. There may well be something wrong with this little guy. If a bear cub had walked up to you, you would not have taken it into your home assuming that the mother was not around would you? It's dangerous, and not to mention expensive if you get caught. I merely hope to enlighten you; not belittle or berate you.

 

[Sillystunt]

yeah, him being a wild duck i would have taken him to a wildlife preserve.
Duck Keeper isn't trying to be a jerk, it's just the truth. I am sure he is just trying to give you knowledge for the future. Some activists would have a field day over him being taken. Wildlife needs to stay as wild as they can. Even if it means him not making it.Sorry it's cruel but we all know the circle of life.

that being said, aren't they cute!!

My flea market duckie stays in a rubbermaid bin, i never let any of them swim when little, no medicated chicken feed, keep him/her warm( i put a stuffed animal in with mine to snuggle with) Some greens are good!

Try to leave him alone as much as possible. So he stays wild! When he/she gets bigger a pool or pond with fish he can fend for himself. that's what he will eat in the wild. It probally will fly off and that's a good thing if he's remained true to his enviroment. Imagine if he didn'tknow how to get his own food , what would happen to it when the duck flew off!!

Best of luck

 

[mfranti]

i talked to a wildlife biologist and he said it's fine to keep the little scrapper left on my doorstep. wild or not (i specifically asked)

since i don't know if he's wild or not (tho i assume he is) i've given him heat and greens in his water w/ some layer mash/crumbles. he's growing a ton in the week we've had him.

will my chickens want to kill it like they do new chicks? at what point can i introduce them?

 

[countrybum]

Quote:
If wild mallards are illegal to own, then why do a lot of hatcheries sell mallard chicks?

I owned 6 wild mallards last year. I purchased them from the co-op. I will let you know in advance, your duck may fly off. All of mine did. Since yours is alone, it may stay.

I get so aggravated when someone post about a wild duckling or a wild gosling and constantly gets told it is illegal. I posted about my Canadian goose egg I hatched and I am still raising the baby with my ducks, and the Wildlife rescue has not come knocking on my door.

It is illegal to mess with their nest and hunt them during breeding season and nesting season.

This is a Canadian gosling, a wild mallard and 3 of my other ducklings. I have more mallards hatched and hatching. The goose egg was set in the middle of nowhere and I took it and put it in my incubator. Yes, it hatched.